“Ah! But you _will_ see them,” said Bizzybuzz. “I can see them now, though they’re not _my_ make-believes! And the moment that you have learned to believe in all the make-believe things in Make Believe Land, and love them as you should, you’ll find that you have with you the knife and the dress and the dog! Now come!” He spread his wings and flew to the window. Perching on the sill, he beckoned to them. “But what does your old Mother Goose want with us?” asked Bab, hesitating. “She’ll tell you herself,” said Bizzybuzz, and bowed low. “Bless her Majesty’s heart!” “Her Majesty!” repeated Meg. “She is one of the many rulers of Make Believe Land,” said Bizzybuzz, bowing again. “Come, come, come! You really must not delay any longer.” He pointed through the open window into the dark outside. “But you don’t expect _us_ to fly!” said Dick. “I have something waiting for you to fly _on_!” said Bizzybuzz, mysteriously. “That isn’t right,” said Meg. “You should say ‘on which to fly.’ My teacher told me so.” Bizzybuzz looked at her disapprovingly. “You really are a disagreeable child, aren’t you?” he remarked. “Never mind. There is your steed _on which to fly_!” He pointed again. The three children could not help hurrying to the window to see what it was. On the ledge outside was sitting a huge owl. His feathers ruffled out and then subsided in the night wind, and his great eyes were like moons. He looked tremendously wise. “O-o-oh!” cried Bab, drawing back, “I’m afraid of owls!” “Nonsense! Don’t be so silly!” said Bizzybuzz,—for it was his turn to be scornful. “Come, climb on! Or no—I suppose you _think_ you are too big! Well, shut your eyes!” They obeyed, and suddenly felt themselves lifted quickly through the air and deposited upon a nest of soft, warm feathers. “All right; open your eyes,” said the voice of Bizzybuzz. “We’re off!” Everything was quite dark when they opened their eyes, but looking up they could see the stars and a driving shoal of faintly shining clouds. Beneath them was a motion as soft and steady as the rocking of a great cradle; they were riding on the owl! Above them flew Bizzybuzz, and they noticed that he was quite transparent against the least bit of light, and that they could see the stars through him very clearly. “Go to sleep if you like,” he told them, “for the journey is a long one.” Then he added something the children did not understand at the time: “I came to your country in less than a second, but it will take a longer time to carry _you_ to Make Believe Land!” The children were far too excited to sleep. They leaned over the owl’s back to catch glimpses of the world underneath, and more than once they nearly fell. It was a thrilling ride! Sometimes they flew low down, through forests dense and fragrant and black; then up, up, into the clouds and starlight; then straight on, over shining water, and cities full of twinkling yellow lights,—on—on—on!