"You just said it was meant for the truth," said Billy. "Yes, _meant_ for the truth--it was just an imitation, so there's no more truth than poetry in it." "It's my turn now," said the Head Scally Wag. "We couldn't joke him to death, so lets tickle him into little bits." "Oh, don't!" cried Billy; "I'm ticklish." "So much the better," said Bumbus. "But if you will give up the note we'll let you go." "I can't do that," said Billy decidedly, "I've got to carry that to Bogie Man." "Come on," cried the Scally Wags, and they swarmed over Billy digging their fingers in the spots where he should have been ticklish. But of course they didn't know that he had on his air suit, and the more they tickled the more serious Billy looked. "No use," said the head Scally Wag, sinking down on the ground exhausted. "We would need a sledge-hammer to tickle that boy." "Give him laughing gas," suggested Bumbus. "Just the thing," cried the Scally Wags. "Wait a minute," said Billy, "just let me have one little game before you give me the gas." "As a last request?" asked Bumbus. "Yes." "Well what is it? speak quickly, for time is short and life is long you know." "I want to play a game of blind man's buff," said Billy. "That sounds reasonable," said Bumbus. "How do you play it?" "First you must all tie your handkerchiefs over your eyes." "Ha--ha--he--he--ho--ho--. Oh! what a joke," cried the Scally Wags, "we all carry pocket handkerchiefs." "And then?" said Bumbus. "Then," said Billy, "you all try to catch me." "Is that all?" asked Bumbus. "Yes." "What fun--ha--ha--he--he--ho--ho," said the Scally Wags, "what a game to be sure." Billy had some difficulty tying the handkerchiefs around the Scally Wags' heads on account of their enormous ears, but finally they were all blindfolded. Bumbus was tied up in a jiffy. "Go," cried Billy, at the same time leaping into the air, and Bumbus and the Scally Wags all made a rush for the spot where he had stood. "I've got him--I've got him," cried all the Scally Wags, hanging on to Bumbus. "I've got him," cried Bumbus, catching hold of a Scally Wag. And Billy laughed aloud to see them scrambling and pushing and jostling one another in their efforts to catch him. Even when he was just a moving black speck on the horizon Bumbus and the Scally Wags were still struggling. CHAPTER VII. THE WISHING BOTTLE. "I can't understand why Bumbus wanted to take that note away from me," Billy said to himself as he floated along. "First he and Nickel Plate employed me to carry it and now he tries to hinder me. Why of course--I know--he is aware that Princess Honey Girl has told me her story and fears that when once I do find Bogie Man I will vanquish him--so I shall, too. I wonder what the future will bring." "Won't you have your fortune told sir?" and Billy looked up to see sailing along at his side a very old, very withered woman sitting on a broom. "Why it's a witch," said Billy.