“It was our Flying Boat!” replied Gran’pa quietly, “and the only way we had of ever getting back home to the Earth!” The Dancing Master was crestfallen. “I am always putting my foot into it!” he exclaimed. “Please do not worry,” said Gran’ma, seeing how sorry the Dancing Master felt. “You did just what you thought was best!” “Indeed I did!” answered the Dancing Master. “But that does not bring back the Flying Boat.” “What do you intend doing with the wicked Magician?” asked Gran’pa. “Nothing!” replied the Chief of Detectives. “He is very well off where he is, and he will never be able to do any mischief as long as he holds on to the wire, or,” he added with a sly wink at the Soft-Voiced Cow, “until the wire lets go of him!” “I feel sorry for him!” said Janey. “Well you need not, Sis!” Johnny cried. “Look at me and you will see about how you look! And it is all the wicked Jingles’ fault!” “Why, what in the world is the matter?” asked the Dancing Master, noticing for the first time that Janey and Johnny had grown so much taller. “We caught hold of the wire!” replied Johnny. “And it made you grow so much taller?” cried the Dancing Master in astonishment. “Have they grown taller?” asked the Chief of Detectives. “Certainly!” the Dancing Master answered. “They were only children and were no taller than myself when they left me three hours ago!” Without saying a word, the Chief of Detectives motioned to the children and the others to follow him, and going to the counter he took a small case from under the counter, and from it a tiny bellows. He then blew a puff of powder over the children and in a short time they had resumed their normal size. Then, putting the case in his pocket, the Chief of Detectives said it would be best for them to try and reach the City of Nite as soon as possible. “We shall have the old Witch to contend with when we reach there,” he reminded the others, “and perhaps even now the Princess is under the power of the wicked creature!” “Let us hasten!” cried Gran’pa. The road now led down the mountain side. A short distance from the Chief of Detectives’ hut it wound through a deep forest, which made the traveling cool and comfortable. At last they came to a section of the forest where all the trees were of pine. Here there was a thick carpet of pine needles that had dropped from the boughs for years. They were smooth, soft and slippery. “Let’s get a board and slide down the mountain on the pine needles!” said Gran’pa, noticing that there was a clear space beneath the trees, which slanted straight down the mountain side. “There are no boards about!” said Gran’ma. “I’ll run back to the hut up the mountain and get some!” the Chief of Detectives volunteered, and away he started. “Wait there for me!” he called as he disappeared up the path. The party sat down to wait the return of the Chief of Detectives.