"Buzz-z-z--here's Billy Bounce," cried Bumbus, settling down at his side. "He-he-ho-ho, oh! what a joke," cried the Scally Wags in one voice, tweaking his nose and his ears and pinching his legs. And though the tweaks and the pinches hurt, Billy couldn't help laughing at the funny little figures. Such great flapping ears, such wide slits of mouths set in a continual grin, such long arms, such round, funny little stomachs and such gay parti-colored clothes. "Well, boy," said Bumbus, poking him in the ribs, "what are you laughing at?" "At your friends, the Scally Wags," said Billy. "Bite him on the wrist," cried the head Scally Wag angrily. "Bite me," laughed Billy, "why you haven't a full set of teeth between you." And it was true, for there was only one tooth to a Scally Wag. "Be quiet," said Bumbus, "I'm thinking! Where's that note Nickel Plate gave you?" Billy did not answer. "Did you hear me?" Billy nodded yes. [Illustration: "_He-he-ho-ho, oh! what a joke," cried the Scally Wags._--Page 82.] "Then why don't you answer? Come, speak up," cried Bumbus in a temper. "I thought you said to be quiet, that you wanted to think," said Billy, looking very, very innocent. "You'll pay for this," said Bumbus. "What, the thought?" asked Billy. "You shouldn't sell it if it is the only one you have, you'll probably need it some time." "Gr-r-r-r-r-r-r, buz-z-z-z-z," was all that Bumbus could answer, he was so angry. "Leave him to me," said the head Scally Wag. "I'll joke him to death." "Do your worst," said Bumbus, regaining his breath. "No, I'll do my best. Here's a conundrum, little fat boy--but you mustn't answer it correctly." "Why not?" said Billy. "Oh! that's against the rules of the game; no wag, not even a Scally Wag expects his conundrums to be answered correctly." "Why do you ask me then?" "So that I can laugh at you for not knowing the answer." "But that's nonsense," persisted Billy. "Of course it is--we Scally Wags are all nonsense." "Well, go ahead." "What time will it be this time last week?" "You mustn't say will it be, but was it." "Have you ever heard this conundrum before?" "No," said Billy. "Well, you see I have--it's my conundrum and I guess _I_ know what I ought to say." "Then it will be the same time that it is now," answered Billy. "Wrong--wrong again," said the head Scally Wag. "It will be a week earlier." "Ha-ha-ho-ho-he-he, oh! what a joke," cried the Scally Wags again, tweaking, pinching and punching Billy. "If you do that again I'll pitch into you," cried Billy angrily. "There, that will do," interrupted Bumbus; then hummed, "Boys delight to bark and bite, It is their nature to, But every cat has many lives And thereby hangs a tale." "But that doesn't rhyme," said Billy. "Of course not--why should it?" asked Bumbus. "Wasn't it meant for a poem?" "Certainly not; it was meant for the truth." "But it's not the truth." "I didn't say it was the truth," said Bumbus.