"Nay, nay--curfew _shall_ not ring to-night," cried Sterry Optican, seizing Billy by his hair and dragging him up and down the room. While she did this the King and Jack Frost clapped their hands loudly and cried, "Bravo, bravo!" "You do it better every day," cried Jack. "My, my, won't people stare when you really do go on the stage!" "And to think that she's my daughter," said the King proudly. "Oh! was that just play?" asked Billy, relieved, but very sore about the scalp, for Sterry had not been gentle. "Yes, wasn't it grand?" said she sitting down. "I'd have been on the stage long ago--I mean really on the stage, you know, and acting for real stage money, but there's so much jealousy in the profession that I can't seem to get a hearing." "That's too bad," said Billy sympathetically. "What do theatre managers say to your acting?" "Just what you said--that it's too bad; but my friends all say I'm just grand, and by all means should go on the stage. Father, you may turn off the light now; I'm through." "Thank goodness," murmured Billy to himself. "What did you say?" whispered Jack Frost. "I was talking to myself," said Billy. "That's a waste of time; though I suppose you're more interested in your conversation than any one else." "That's sarcastic." "No, it's true," said Jack. "Don't you think I'm clever?" "You're what I would call a sharp Frost," said Billy laughing. "Stop talking for a minute," interrupted King Calcium. "I'm not talking," said Sterry Optican; "I'm thinking, and it's much harder to think than to talk." "It is for some people," said Jack. "Now as for me----" "Be silent," cried the King; "Nickel Plate is trying to signal me." "Nickel Plate!" exclaimed Billy rising to his feet. "Yes," said the King, "do you know him?" "I've met him," said Billy; "but excuse me, good day----" "Night, you mean; it won't be day for six months," interrupted Jack Frost. "Good night, then; I really must be going." "Not until you've carved your initials on the North Pole," said Sterry Optican. "It's my autograph album, you know, and I have the names and initials of many famous people on it. Why, even my own is there." "Thank you very much," said Billy, nervously, "but I really can't spare the time." "That's all you know about the North Pole," said Jack. "You could stay there a year and not be spending a minute." "What do you mean?" asked Billy in surprise. "Just what I say, this time--how are days, hours, minutes and seconds measured? Answer me that." "By the length of time it takes a given point to completely revolve about the earth's axis," answered Billy, not quite sure that this was the exact definition, but thinking it was near enough. "Right," said Jack; "and so, if you are on the axis, the North Pole, that is, you can't revolve around it, can you?" "No," said Billy. "And if you can't revolve around it you can't measure time, can you?" "No."