"No, you don't; you've got to take the note," cried Billy, forcing it into Bogie Man's unwilling and trembling hands. "And now," he began, but just as he spoke, in through the broken window poured the enemy, intent on Billy's capture. But he was determined to have his talk with Bogie Man and secure his promise that Honey Girl was to be left unharmed. Seizing Bogie Man he cast his eyes about him for some means of escape. He saw a door just behind him. With one bound he reached it, threw it open and was off down the corridor headed for the front door, which he saw dimly outlined at the farthest end. Behind him shrieked the Imps and Sprites, filling the house with their wild, weird cries. The foremost Imp was clutching at his hair, and had almost caught him when he reached the door, flung it open, jumped through, and crashed it to again just in time to catch the Imp fast, half in and half out. "Bing!" and Billy had taken such a leap up into the air as he had never taken before. CHAPTER XXI. IN THE QUEEN BEE PALACE. On, on and on went Billy, rushing through the air with a speed he had never before experienced: the result of the tremendous leap he had taken in leaving In-The-Dark, Never Was. Bogie Man squirmed and struggled, scratched and bit and kicked, threatening Billy with the most horrible punishment if he did not release him. But Billy only held on the tighter and answered never a word. For now he knew what a harmless imitation he really was unless seen through the Window of Fear. Then down, down, down he dropped right into the middle of a great, sweet field of red clover from which arose the continuous hum-m-m-m-m buzz-z-z of thousands of honey-gathering bees. And before him stood a beehive, the entrance of which he could see was guarded by Yellow Jacket Bee Sentries. "The uniform of Honey Girl's guard," he cried excitedly. "It must be the Palace of the Queen Bee. Now at last I shall see Honey Girl." Saying this he stepped toward the hive. "What are you going to do?" asked Bogie Man in alarm. "Enter that hive and see Honey Girl," said Billy. "Oh! but don't you see the guard--they will sting us. Oh! don't, don't, don't." "And you are the Bogie Man everyone is afraid of," said Billy in disgust. "You are a fine specimen, aren't you?" "But you can't get through that little opening." And here it did look as if there was some reason in Bogie Man's words. "I can try, can't I?" said Billy. "Halt--buzz-z--halt!" cried all the Bee Sentries, presenting their sting bayonets. "I'm coming in," said Billy, preparing to jump. "You do so at the peril of your life," cried the principal sentry. "I have done so many things that way lately," answered Billy, "that I've quite grown used to it." "Halt! Halt! I say." "Oh! don't. Please don't risk it. Remember I'm an old man and a sting might prove fatal." And Bogie Man trembled like a leaf.