Taking one of Billy's trouser legs in each hand, Mr. Gas gave a quick jerk and Billy found himself standing on his feet with the rubber suit inside of his uniform. "There," said Mr. Gas, "that's done--the next thing is to blow you up." "Oh! Mr. Gas, please don't do that," said Billy, thinking of gunpowder and things. "With a hot air pump--stand quiet," chug-chug-ff-chug-ff-squee-e went the pump and there stood Billy like a great round butter ball. His uniform fitted as close and snug on the rubber suit as the skin on an onion. For that was a peculiar property of the rubber suit; any clothes, loose, tight or otherwise were bound to fit over it. "Thank you sir," said Billy looking down and trying to see his foot, "but--" "Here's the hot air pump; put it in your pocket.--Now--be careful, don't jump or you'll bump your head. You're ready now to hunt Bogie Man." "How am I to get there?" "Jump there of course," replied Mr. Gas. "When you get outside the door all you have to do is to jump into the air; that will carry you out of town. Then keep on jumping till you get there. That's simple, isn't it?" "But can't you tell me in which direction to jump?" asked Billy. "Jump up, of course; if you jump down you'll dent the sidewalk." "But shall I jump North or East or South or West, sir?" "Exactly; just follow those directions and you will be sure to arrive; but wait, before you start I'll give you Barker, my little dog." "What kind of a dog is he?" asked Billy. "A full-blooded, yellow cur. He won the Booby prize at the last dog show." "Thank you, sir; but won't you keep him for me until I get back?" "Don't jump to conclusions, Billy, it strains the suit; Barker will help you when you want shade or shelter by night or day." "Isn't he rather a small dog for me to get under?" asked Billy, looking at the tiny animal Mr. Gas held out to him. Mr. Gas stamped his foot. "More questions--listen: when night or rain comes on, drop to the ground, dig a little hole, hold Barker's nose over it and pinch his tail to make him bark. Shovel in the dirt, and of course you will have planted his bark. Well, you know what is planted must grow, so up will come the bark and the boughs, and you can shelter yourself all night beneath the singing tree." Billy took the dog and started out of the door. "Thank you; is that all, sir?" "Of course not," said Mr. Gas. "Yes, sir." "Good-bye." "Good-bye?" asked Billy, in surprise, "I thought you said--" "Yes, that's it; we had to say good-bye before it could be all." "Oh! good-bye," said Billy, and going outside took a great big jump up into the air. CHAPTER II. A JUMP TO SHAMVILLE. Up, up, up, went Billy when he took his leap into the air. Way above the house tops, past the city, over green fields, hills and valleys, crossing brooks and rivers that looked like little threads of silver so far below were they, until he thought he never would alight.