As Bobbie watched her, old King Eolus came puffing back from the chest of silver he'd been examining. “Time for me to be off again,” he said. “Old Eolus can't stay in one place very long, you know. Come on, Bobbie, and I'll start you on your way home!” “Here, here,” cried the dwarf, “before you go, help yourself to some of this treasure. It's the prize for reaching the Rainbow's end, and you've done it, Bobbie.” But again Bobbie could not reach through the bubble, and much as he hated to leave the glittering coins and sparkling stones, there seemed no help for it. He was just about to thank the dwarf for his kindness, however, when the dwarf said, “Next time you see the Raindrops, dig in your back yard. They are my messengers, and I'll send the gold by them.” So Bobbie thanked the dwarf for his promise, and bade him good-by. Then old King Eolus puffed out his cheeks and with a mighty breath sent the bubble spinning. Faster and faster it sped through space, and what with going so fast and thinking so hard about the gold the dwarf had promised him, Bobbie never noticed what was happening around him until he heard a hoarse voice shouting, “Off the track! Off the track! Off the track!” Imagine how shocked he was to see coming toward him a most remarkable person who was all head and no body--though at first glance the long sandy beard that trailed out behind him took the place of a body. But, indeed, he was no gentleman in any sense of the word. He had wicked looking eyes, and as he shouted again he pointed with one of his great ears. [Illustration: 0061] “Off the track! Off the track! Off the track!” he repeated at the top of his voice. Now Bobbie could n't see any track, and of course he couldn't have got off of his own accord if he had seen one. This curious person was coming like a fire engine, too, and things certainly seemed in a bad way. “He's just like those silly geese,” thought Bobbie. “Folks up here in the sky are always telling other folks to get out of the way!” Now the air was filled with a terrible rushing sound and the curious person was shouting away louder than ever. “Clear the road, clear the road there for the Comet Express!” “Whizaphats!” thought Bobbie. “Comet Express! Why, he _can't_ stop--expresses never stop--and I can't--and--I'll signal him!” He grabbed at his red tie and, pulling it off his neck, waved it round and round his head. Too late--the Comet Expressman still dashed madly on. “Say,” cried Bobbie, “don't you see this signal? Danger! Danger, I tell you! There'll be a collision!” Bobbie grew more and more excited as he watched the grinning head with the long sandy beard rushing on and on. As it neared the Milky Way a flock of goats scurried wildly across its path and a herd of cows kicked up their heels and ran to the farthest corner of their pink pasture. And just then, with a fearful swoop, the Comet Express bore down upon Bobbie and the wonderful bubble. [Illustration: 0063]