e was as flat as a pancake,
and about as thick as one; and, in the second place, he was so
transparent that Davy could see through his head and his arms and his
legs almost as clearly as though he had been made of glass. This was so
surprising in itself that when Davy presently discovered that he was
made of beautiful, clear lemon candy, it seemed the most natural thing
in the world, as explaining his transparency. He was neatly dressed in a
sort of tunic of writing-paper, with a cocked hat of the same material,
and he had under his arm a large book, with the words "HOLE-KEEPER'S
VACUUM" printed on the cover. This curious-looking creature was standing
before an extremely high wall, with his back to Davy, intently watching
a large hole in the wall about a foot from the ground. There was nothing
extraordinary about the appearance of the hole (except that the lower
edge of it was curiously tied in a large bow-knot, like a cravat); but
Davy watched it carefully for a few moments, thinking that perhaps
something marvellous would come out of it. Nothing appeared, however,
and Davy, walking up close behind the candy man, said very politely, "If
you please, sir, I dropped in here"--

Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly,
"Well, drop out again--quick!"

"But," pleaded Davy, "you can't drop out of a place, you know, unless
the place should happen to turn upside down."

"I _don't_ know anything about it," replied the Hole-keeper, without
moving. "I never saw anything drop--except once. Then I saw a gum-drop.
Are you a gum?" he added, suddenly turning around and staring at Davy.

"Of course I'm not," said Davy, indignantly. "If you'll only listen to
me you'll understand exactly how it happened."

"Well, go on," said the Hole-keeper, impatiently, "and don't be
tiresome."

"I fell down ever so far," said Davy, beginning his story over again,
"and at last I broke through something"--

"That was the skylight!" shrieked the Hole-keeper, dashing his book upon
the ground in a fury. "That was the barley-sugar skylight, and I shall
certainly be boiled!"

This was such a shocking idea that Davy stood speechless, staring at
the Hole-keeper, who rushed to and fro in a convulsion of distress.

"Now, see here," said the Hole-keeper, at length, coming up to him and
speaking in a low, trembling voice. "This must be a private secret
between us. Do you solemsy promilse?"

"I prolemse," said Davy, earnestly.