"Well, we might incorporate my gift," said Wilbraham. "What would you say to a United States Wish Syndicate, formed to produce and sell wishes to the public by the can--POTTED WISHES: ONE HUNDRED NON-CUMULATIVE WISHES FOR A DOLLAR. Eh?" Midas paced the floor in his enthusiasm. "Magnificent!" he cried. "We'll underwrite the whole thing in my office--bonds, stock, both common and preferred--for say--ahem!--how much did you say?" "Oh, I guess I can pull along on a billion," said Wilbraham. "Cash." Midas scratched his head. A glitter came into his eye. "You wish to give up control of your gift?" he asked. "You are a clever man, Colonel Midas," grinned Wilbraham. "If I had said 'yes' to that question I'd have lost my power. But I'm too old a bird to be caught that way. You go ahead and form your company, and sell your securities to the public at par, pay me my billion, and I'll transfer the business to you, C. O. D." "Done!" said Midas, and he returned to his fellow-captains on the Street. Wilbraham was felicitating himself upon a wondrously good stroke of business, when another caller entered his room, this time unannounced. "How do you do, Mr. Wilbraham?" said the stranger, as he mysteriously materialized before Wilbraham's desk. "How are you?" said Wilbraham. "Your face is familiar to me, but I can't just recall where I have met you." "My name is Oberon, sir," said the stranger, "I am the secretary of the United States Fairy Company. There is a little trouble over your account, and I have called to see if we can't--" Wilbraham's heart sank within him. "It--it isn't overdrawn, is it?" he whispered, hoarsely. "No, it isn't," said the secretary. "By Jove!" cried Wilbraham, drawing a deep sigh of relief, and springing to his feet, grasping Oberon by both hands. "Sit down, sit down! You have been a benefactor to me, sir." "I am glad you realize that fact, Mr. Wilbraham," said the fairy, somewhat coldly. "It makes it easier for me to say what I have come here to say. We did not realize, Mr. Wilbraham," he went on, "when we awarded you the three original wishes that you would be clever enough to work the wish business up into an industry. If we had we should have made the wishes non-cumulative. We were perfectly willing to permit a reasonable overdraft also, but we didn't expect you to pyramid your holdings the way you have done until you have practically secured a corner in the market." Wilbraham grinned broadly. "I have been going some," he said.