"And here we are," said the Egg, as they dropped gently on the sidewalk in the town of Eggs-Aggeration. And such a grotesque town as it was. Not a straight street or house in it. The walls, a little distance away, went up and up so high that Billy could just barely see the roofs of the houses; but when he was standing next them he could almost reach their tops by standing on tiptoe. The streets looked miles long, but he knew he could almost come to their end in three steps and a jump. "What an exaggeration," said Billy to himself; "why, of course, that's the reason they call it Eggs-Aggeration." "Here's Billy Bounce," called White Wings, and out of their doors and windows trooped the inhabitants. First came the Blue Hen's Chicken, and after her rolled eggs of all kinds and descriptions. [Illustration: _Blue Hen's Chicken._] "My goodness," said White Wings, "what a time I had with him, to be sure. It was only after a fierce hand-to-egg struggle that I succeeded in capturing him." "Why!" exclaimed Billy in surprise. "I----" "Is he very strong?" interrupted the Blue Hen's Chicken. "Strong," said White Wings, "_Strong_, I should say he was; much stronger than our oldest inhabitant." "What are you going to do with me?" asked Billy, too disgusted to deny the story. "Wait and see," chuckled the Chicken, "wait--wait--wait--wait--and see--bad luck--bad luck--bad luck." "Serve him right for being a greedy boy," said Turkey Egg, angrily. "I know him, he's a bad lot--always eating, just gobble, gobble, gobble, all day long." "That's not true," said Billy, "you know you don't know me." "Never saw you in my life before," whispered Turkey Egg, "but don't mention that, if I want to get my witness fee I've got to say something, haven't I?" "But you may be swearing my life away," said Billy. "I never swear, but I'm sure you want to get away, don't you?" "Yes, of course." "Well, you want to take your life with you, don't you?" "Yes." "There you are, then; if your life is taken away it won't be here, and if it is not here you won't be here, and if you are not here you will be away," and Turkey Egg laughed heartily at his joke. "You are the most heartless egg I ever knew," said Billy, in despair. "Sh-h-h-h-h! now you've hit the truth," said Turkey Egg, confidentially; "years ago, when they thought I was going to turn out bad, they blew my heart out." "Isn't he handsome," simpered little Miss Easter Egg, coloring up. Billy pretended not to hear this, but it did his heart good to know that he had one friend in the city. In the meantime Blue Hen's Chicken and the Official Candler, who was called Egg Judge, had been discussing what should be done with Billy. "Bogie Man says he is to be kept in custardy for a thousand years," said Blue Hen's Chicken. [Illustration: _Little Miss Easter Egg._] "I know that's an exaggeration," said Billy; "why, I can't live that long."