"Well," said Billy staring at the note in his hand, "I'm glad I'm out of that room anyway." Then looking up at the door he read painted in bold, black letters on the glass "Nickel Plate, Polished Villain. Short and long orders in all kinds of villainy promptly executed. Abductions a specialty." And lower down in smaller letters, "I. B. Bumbus, Assistant Villain, office hours between 3 o'clock." "What am I to do with this note? It is addressed to Bogie Man, In-The-Dark, Never Was. If I don't deliver the message I'll be discharged, and if I do deliver it--but how can I--oh pshaw! I know, I'm asleep--ouch!" for he had given himself a sharp nip in the calf of his leg to wake himself. But there was the note still in his hand, and there in front of him stood the building he had just left. "I'm awake, that's certain, and--I beg your pardon, sir--" for he had bumped into a little old gentleman who was hurrying in the opposite direction. [Illustration: _"Now," said Mr. Gas, "be careful not to sit on the ceiling."_--Page 17.] "It's Mr. Gas, the balloon maker," cried Billy, joyfully; "perhaps you can help me; it's a good thing I ran into you." "Humph!" said Mr. Gas, with his hands on his stomach, "it's not a very good thing for me that you ran into me, but I'm glad to see you." "I am sorry, Mr. Gas, but I'm really in very serious trouble," said Billy, with a sigh. Mr. Gas smiled. "I might have known you didn't know the way to Bogie Man's house." "Why," said Billy, in surprise, "how did you know--" "Gift horses can't be choosers, which means, don't ask any questions," said Mr. Gas, pinching Billy's ear; "but come along to my house, and I'll help you." "Now," said Mr. Gas, when they had entered the shop where he made all the toy balloons for all the little boys and girls in all the world, "be careful not to sit on the ceiling, because if you do you'll burst some of my balloons." Billy laughed. "Sit on the ceiling; why, how could I?" "Wait and see," said Mr. Gas; "nothing is impossible to your Fairy Godfather." "Are you my Fairy Godfather?" asked Billy, opening his eyes very, very wide. "On Sundays and week days I am; the rest of the time I'm not." "But what other days are there?" said Billy. "Strong days of course. I thought you knew Geography," said Mr. Gas huffily. "Yes, sir, I suppose so," said Billy afraid to ask any more questions. "Now then, put on this suit," said the balloon maker, producing what looked like a big rubber bag. "Yes, sir, but--" "Of course it's wrong side out. How can I get the right side inside unless the wrong side is outside of the inside of the outside of the inside of your outside clothes. Anybody who can count his chickens before they are hatched ought to know that." Billy gasped and proceeded to pull the suit on over his messenger boy's uniform. "Stand on your head." Billy knew how to do this. He had practiced it often enough against fences when he should have been delivering messages.