While he polished the shoes he told his plans to Cap'n Bill and Trot
and asked them to be ready to fly with him as soon as he returned
with the Magic Umbrella. All they need to do was to step out into
the street, through the door of Cap'n Bill's room, and open the
umbrella. Fortunately, the seats and the lunch-basket were still
attached to the handle--or so they thought--and there would be
nothing to prevent their quickly starting on the journey home.
They waited a long time, however, to give the Boolooroo time to get
to sleep, so it was after midnight when Button-Bright finally took
the shoes in his hand and started for the Royal Bedchamber. He
passed the guard of the Royal Treasury and Fredjim nodded
good-naturedly to the boy. But the sleepy guard before the King's
apartments was cross and surly.
"What are you doing here at this hour?" he demanded.
"I'm returning his Majesty's shoes," said Button-Bright.
"Go back and wait till morning," commanded the guard.
"If you prevent me from obeying the Boolooroo's orders," returned
the boy quietly, "he will probably have you patched."
This threat frightened the long-necked guard, who did not know what
orders the Boolooroo had given his Royal Bootblue. "Go in, then,"
said he, "but if you make a noise and waken his Majesty, the chances
are you'll get yourself patched."
"I'll be quiet," promised the boy.
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