"Why of course," said Big Gillie, "how foolish of you! I knew all the time that _I_ didn't have it." "Now tie him tight," said His Terics. "We'll do that," answered Big Gillie, and in a jiffy they had tied, not Billy at all, but His Terics and Her Terics, though they still held Billy. "Oh! you Gillies," cried His Terics, "can't you see you've tied up the wrong persons?" "How strange!" said the Gillies, letting go of Billy in their surprise. "Now is my chance," thought Billy, and stepped away to get room for his jump. "Safe," he had just said to himself, when he found himself caught by his collar. "Not yet, my fine fellow," said a voice. "Haha, so it is you," said Nickel Plate, tapping his boots with the limber cane he carried. "Nickel Plate," cried Billy. "Nickel Plate," cried the Aztec Fragments and the Gillies. "Foiled--foiled again," he hissed between his teeth; "then you recognize me--tell--a--me--do you?" "Of course," said Billy. "He recognizes me in spite of my disguise--strange--strange," said Nickel Plate. "Oh! are you disguised?" asked Billy. "Sh-h-h, not so loud. Yes, completely disguised--even an utter stranger would not know me--I have changed my mind." "Wonderful!" said Big Gillie; "if we had not seen your face and figure we should never have known you." "Ha-ha, you see?" said Nickel Plate, shaking Billy. "Yes sir," said Billy. "He-he-he," laughed Her Terics, "how funny!" "Isn't it silly?" said His Terics. "What?" asked the others. "I just happened to think of a joke about a mind." "What is it?" asked Nickel Plate, "and look sharp because we're wasting time." "Never mind--he-he-he," and Her Terics threw back her head and laughed aloud. "Enough," thundered Nickel Plate--"boy, where are those papers?" "What papers, sir," asked Billy. "The note, base varlet--the note, or by me halidom----" "The note for Bogie Man?" interrupted Billy. "Yes, but why in the world did you interrupt me?" said Nickel Plate, pettishly. "I've been studying that speech for a week, and now you've put it out of my head." "Where did he put it? I'll find it," said Big Gillie, looking on the ground. "He-he-he," laughed the Aztecs. "I'm sorry, sir," began Billy. "It's all very well to say you're sorry, but I know you're glad you're sorry. The note, give it to me." "I can't, sir," said Billy. "You dare to refuse?" "I'm sorry, sir----" "Don't use that word again; give me the note," said Nickel Plate. "I can't, sir, it is addressed to Bogie Man, and I must carry it to him." "Ah! but I have learned that in delivering it you would betray us. I _must_ have it back. Besides it is not needed, Honey Girl is in me power, ha-ha!" Billy's heart sank way, way down into his boots. "You have captured Honey Girl?" he asked in a trembling voice. "Yes, even now she languishes in a donjon cell, ha-ha. To-morrow she goes to work in the factory, while Glucose takes her place in the Queen Bee Palace." "You villain," cried Billy.