"Throw a wet blanket over him," commanded the Colonel. "Regiment, carry arms!" At that the soldiers drew out their pocket-handkerchiefs, held them to their eyes, reversed their guns, and advanced boldly on Billy, while the band played the tune the old cow died on. Billy continued to force his laugh, trying hard to think of some way out of his difficulty. He didn't like the idea of the wet blanket, and he couldn't jump or run because Corporal Punishment's whip was wound around his neck. "Double quick!" cried the Colonel. "Catch him before the sun comes out." Barker stirred uneasily in Billy's pocket. "Saved!" cried Billy. "It's worth trying." And quickly taking Barker out of his pocket, he held him by his hind legs and gently thumped his little stomach. "Plump," and out fell the bar of sunlight he had swallowed the night before. When it struck the ground it burst into a million dancing, sparkling bits of golden sunshine, and presto! the Blues had disappeared, lock, stock and barrel. And there stood Billy, in a glow of sunlight on the beautiful green grass, listening to the sweet notes of forest birds in the trees nearby. "Now I know how to get rid of the Blues," sang Billy to himself, as he leapt into the air, "a good hearty laugh and a bit of sunshine will always disperse them." CHAPTER IV. ADVENTURES IN EGGS-AGGERATION. "Hello!" cried Billy, "what's that ahead?" Far off on the horizon he saw a large white and gold thing sailing through the air. As he drew nearer he could see its wings gently flapping. "It looks something like--why it _is_, a large fried egg," said he, excitedly. "Good day, sir," for by this time they were side by side. "It's not a good day, and I'm not sir, I'm White Wings," said the fried egg, curling up around the edges scornfully. "Well, maybe you're not sir," said Billy, tartly, "but you're very surly." "You wouldn't blame me if you knew how nearly I jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire this morning; you can see that I'm all of a-tremble still, and all because Bogie Man sent an airless message to the Blue Hen's Chicken that I was to get up before breakfast and do sentry duty." "What for?" asked Billy. "To stop one Billy Bounce, alias Rubber Ball Boy, and take him prisoner to the town of Eggs-Aggeration. He's a very dangerous person." "Why, I'm----" and then Billy stopped. "Of course you are; I knew that as soon as I saw you," said White Wings, complacently. "What did you know?" "That you're----" "_What_ am I?" "I don't know, but you said you were," said White Wings. "But wait a minute, I have a lineless picture of this Billy Bounce some place about me." "You needn't trouble," said Billy. "I'm Billy Bounce." "Yes, I know," answered White Wings, unblushingly, "it's impossible to deceive _me_." "Well!" was all Billy could say, so disgusted was he with the barefaced fib.