ure, vases,
bric-a-brac and the like, were strewn about the room in astonishing
profusion.

Just at the boy's feet crouched a monstrous animal of most fearful
aspect. He knew at a glance it was the terrible Blue Wolf, and the
sight of the beast sent a shiver through him. The Blue Wolf's head was
fully as big as that of a lion, and its wide jaws were armed with rows
of long, pointed teeth. His shoulders and front legs were huge and
powerful, but the rest of the wolf's body dwindled away until at the
tail it was no bigger than a dog. The jaws were therefore the dangerous
part of the creature, and its small blue eyes flashed wickedly at the
intruder.

Just as the boy made his first step forward, the Blue Wolf sprang upon
him with its enormous jaws stretched wide open. Button-Bright jammed
the sofa-pillow into the brute's mouth and crowded it in as hard as he
could. The terrible teeth came together and buried themselves in the
pillow, and then Mr. Wolf found he could not pull them out
again--because his mouth was stuffed full. He could not even growl or
yelp, but rolled upon the floor trying in vain to release himself from
the conquering pillow.

Button-Bright paid no further attention to the helpless animal, but
caught up the blue-brass lamp and began a search for his umbrella. Of
course he could not find it, as it was not there. He came across a
small book bound in light-blue leather which lay upon an exquisitely
carved center-table. It was named, in dark-blue letters stamped on the
leather, "The Royal Record Book," and remembering Ghip-Ghisizzle longed
to possess this book, Button-Bright hastily concealed it inside his
blouse. Then he renewed his search for the umbrella, but it was quite
in vain. He hunted in every crack and corner, bumbling the treasures
here and there in the quest, but at last he became positive that the
Magic Umbrella was not there.

The boy was bitterly disappointed and did not know what to do next. But
he noticed that the Blue Wolf had finally seized an edge of the
sofa-pillow in its sharp claws and was struggling to pull the thing out
of his mouth; so, there being no object in his remaining longer in the
room where he might have to fight the wolf again, Button-Bright went
out and locked the door behind him.

While he stood in the corridor wondering what to do next, a sudden
shouting reached his ears. It was the voice of the Boolooroo, saying
"My Key, my Key! Who has stolen my golden Key?" An