a very nice way to travel," said Princess Fluff. "I'd like to go
home in a bubble, too."

So the Wizard blew a big bubble around Princess Fluff, and another
around King Bud, her brother, and a third one around Queen Zixi; and
soon these three bubbles had mounted into the sky and were floating off
in a group in the direction of the kingdom of Noland.

The success of these ventures induced the other guests from foreign
lands to undertake bubble journeys, also; so the Wizard put them one by
one inside his bubbles, and Santa Claus directed the way they should go,
because he knew exactly where everybody lived.

Finally Button-Bright said:

"I want to go home, too."

"Why, so you shall!" cried Santa; "for I'm sure your father and mother
will be glad to see you again. Mr. Wizard, please blow a big, fine
bubble for Button-Bright to ride in, and I'll agree to send him home to
his family as safe as safe can be."

"I'm sorry," said Dorothy with a sigh, for she was fond of her little
comrade; "but p'raps it's best for Button-Bright to get home; 'cause
his folks must be worrying just dreadful."

She kissed the boy, and Ozma kissed him, too, and all the others waved
their hands and said good-bye and wished him a pleasant journey.

"Are you glad to leave us, dear?" asked Dorothy, a little wistfully.

"Don't know," said Button-Bright.

He sat down cross-legged on the platform, with his sailor hat tipped
back on his head, and the Wizard blew a beautiful bubble all around him.

A minute later it had mounted into the sky, sailing toward the west, and
the last they saw of Button-Bright he was still sitting in the middle of
the shining globe and waving his sailor-hat at those below.

"Will you ride in a bubble, or shall I send you and Toto home by means
of the Magic Belt?" the Princess asked Dorothy.

"Guess I'll use the Belt," replied the little girl. "I'm sort of 'fraid
of those bubbles."

"Bow-wow!" said Toto, approvingly. He loved to bark at the bubbles as
they sailed away, but he didn't care to ride in one.

Santa Claus decided to go next. He thanked Ozma for her hospitality and
wished her many happy returns of the day. Then the Wizard blew a bubble
around his chubby little body and smaller bubbles around each of his
Ryls and Knooks.

As the kind and generous friend of children mounted into the air the
people all cheered at the top of their voices, for they loved Santa
Claus dearly; and the little man heard them thr