"Half past eight--time we were off!" said Billy, looking at his Waterbury. And so off they flew into space. "I doubt if I can float over that high mountain," he said presently. "What a queer-looking thing it is, too." And no wonder it was queer looking, for it was the Volcano of Vociferous with just a little thin white vapor rising from its crater. "Oh, me! oh, my! I'm falling right into the hole," he cried, "I wonder if I will fetch up in China?" And sure enough, when he got right over the crater he began to fall, fall, fall, through the opening and way down towards the centre of the earth. And just about the time he had given up hopes of ever landing in any place, he hit plump on a floor of lava. Right in front of him was a door bearing this sign: "The Coal Man. Best Anthracite and Soft Coal. New Gold and Silver bought and sold. Nickel-plating a specialty. For admission to works apply at Office. Walk in." Turning the handle Billy walked in. "Well," said a smutty-faced old man who was bustling about the office and whom Billy rightly took for the Coal Man. "How do you do?" said Billy. "Tired, very tired," answered the Coal Man. "Worked to death. I have a rush order for an eruption of Vociferous and it's keeping my alchemist and myself busy day and night, while the coal stokers and furnace tenders threaten to strike for lower wages." [Illustration: _The Coal Man._] "That's too bad," said Billy sympathetically. "Not a bit of it. I like the work. I suppose you want to go through the works." "If it's not too much trouble." "I don't know whether you will find it too much trouble or not; you will have to decide that for yourself." "I mean for you." "It can't be for me, because I'm not going. What's your name?" "Billy Bounce." "Billy Bounce? Glad to know you, Billy. I've heard a great deal of you from a customer of min." "A customer! Who is he?" "Nickel Plate the Polished Villain. He comes down here every once in a while to be plated." "Nickel Plate!" cried Billy in alarm. "Why, he is my enemy." "I know it," said the Coal Man; "but don't mind that; he's his own best friend." "But if that's the case, aren't you going to harm me?" "Certainly not. You can't do me any harm by telling the truth about my work. You will find that your only enemies are the people who know you will expose them as imitations." "I hadn't thought of that before," said Billy, greatly relieved. "Of course you hadn't. They wouldn't either if they hadn't felt so guilty themselves. Well, here's your card of admission, and don't pick up any hot lava." "Thank you," said Billy. "I won't." The Coal Man opened the door leading into the works. Such a wonderful sight as met Billy's gaze! A deep red glow was over everything, growing lighter and duller every few moments as the stokers would open a furnace door, shovel in some coal, and slam the door to again.