“It’s a long, sad story,” answered Mother Goose, with a sigh. “All you need know now is that he was angry with my poor Humpty Dumpty, and turned him into an egg. And my son has to spend all his time balancing himself on that wall, and if he should ever fall he would be broken! You don’t know how afraid I am that some day he will fall and be broken!” And a tear ran down Mother Goose’s nose. “Worst of all,” she said with a choke, “the people come out and laugh at him!” “Well, that’s a shame,” said Dick, sympathetically. “It must be pretty unpleasant to balance yourself on a wall for three hundred and three years, especially if you are an egg!” “You,” continued Mother Goose, “must rescue him!” “I! Rescue him!” exclaimed Dick. “But how?” “You’re a boy,” said Mother Goose, “and I’ve heard you are supposed to be bright. You ought to be able to think of a way. And anyway, it’s just possible”—she paused and looked from one to the other—“it’s just possible that your sisters will be able to help you later. They have their own work to do first, but perhaps when that is done they will find time to help you. In any case, what you must remember is that the rescue of Humpty Dumpty is the thing which I wish more than anything else. Now go, all of you, and let me see how well you can obey orders and do your duty. Remember, you must not forget what each of you has been sent for, you must hurry as fast as you can, and you must not stop on the way. Good-bye, mortal children; I shall be as glad as you when you are all safe back again!” She waved her stick, and they all hurried out of the cottage. While Bizzybuzz woke up the owl, they looked back into the room they had just left. Mother Goose was standing there with her big white goose. As they looked, she smiled,—such a beautiful, sweet, kindly smile! And somehow they knew then that nothing very terrible was going to happen to them in Make Believe Land. Then the cottage door closed, and Bizzybuzz told them to climb on the owl again. [Illustration: THE OWL-INNKEEPER’S STORY] “Oh, dear!” sighed Bab. “And now where to?” “We are going to lunch with Moon-Eyes first,” said Bizzybuzz. “Then I shall lead you to the Wonderful Wood, and see you all three off on your journeys.” Another second and they were once more speeding through the air. This time the flight was a short one, for they only crossed the little glade, and went about a hundred feet down a sort of avenue that the forest trees had made, to a huge oak-tree. It was the biggest tree that they had ever seen, and Bizzybuzz explained that the wild things that lived in it—Moon-Eyes among others—were very proud of its size and beauty. Into its topmost branches flew the great owl, and alighted on a small bough just under a big hole in the trunk. And there at the entrance of the hole was sitting a very pretty silver-gray owl, much smaller than the carriers. She moved her wings softly up and down, and said, “How do you do?” most politely.