"Udge! Budge! Go to Mudge! Udger budger, I'm a Mudger!" No sooner had he done so than Mustafa sprang into the air and all the Mudgers began roaring with fright and fury. "He's discovered the secret of Mudge," shrilled Mustafa, pulling out a handful of his whiskers. "How dare you use our own privately patented, particular, magic transformation formula? Now you'll be wishing all sorts of people into the country!" "He's a wizard!" screamed Panapee. "I told you he was a wizard! Twist his tail; off with his head; throw him to the lions!" "Wait, let me explain," pleaded the clown, but his voice was drowned in the angry hubbub. Then all at once a gong at the back of the tent rang thunderously. Mustafa, who had already seized the tail of Notta's disguise, paused. So did the others. On a platform at the other end of the tent stood Tazzywaller, thumping the gong with all his might. The noise was so terrible that even Notta and Bob, frightened though they were, had to cover their ears. Not until Mustafa ran to the little platform and commanded Tazzywaller to stop, did the awful clangor cease. "What do you mean by this impertinence?" panted Mustafa, seizing Tazzy's arm. "It was the only way I could get your attention," said Tazzywaller calmly. "I have something important to say. About _lions_," he finished meaningly. "Well, what is it?" puffed Mustafa eagerly. "Be quiet!" he called to the Mudgers who were again closing in on Notta and Bob. "That person," cried Tazzywaller, with a wave toward Notta, "is undoubtedly a wizard. Instead of snatching off his head, which will be of no use to us, even as an ornament, why not compel him to serve us? He is a wizard, or he would not be in Mudge. Well then, let him go to the Emerald City and bring back the Cowardly Lion!" Mustafa stared at his former chamberlain in amazed admiration, then flinging both arms about his neck, hugged him almost to suffocation. Next instant he had clapped his hands and issued a dozen orders to as many little servitors. At the first the shouting Mudgers retired backward from the tent, at the second Panapee also retired, leaving Bob and Notta alone with Tazzy and their Majesties. Outside, the marching and countermarching of the blue guard could be heard as they surrounded the royal tent. "The rules aren't working at all well, Bob," breathed Notta anxiously. Bob said nothing. He just clutched the clown's hand a little tighter and stared at Mustafa in open-eyed wonder. "Now then," chuckled the monarch of Mudge, "now then, my handsome wizard, what do you call yourself?" "Notta," began the clown, resolved to be polite as long as possible, "Notta Bit More." "Notta!" coughed Mustafa, opening his eyes wide. "That doesn't sound like a name. It sounds like--" "A joke," put in the clown, with one of his broad smiles, "a little joke on me. You see it is meant to be funny."