Part 2

But again Bobbie could not reach through the bubble, and much as he hated to leave the glittering coins and sparkling stones, there seemed no help for it. He was just about to thank the dwarf for his kindness, however, when the dwarf said, “Next time you see the Raindrops, dig in your back yard. They are my messengers, and I'll send the gold by them.”

So Bobbie thanked the dwarf for his promise, and bade him good-by. Then old King Eolus puffed out his cheeks and with a mighty breath sent the bubble spinning. Faster and faster it sped through space, and what with going so fast and thinking so hard about the gold the dwarf had promised him, Bobbie never noticed what was happening around him until he heard a hoarse voice shouting, “Off the track! Off the track! Off the track!”

Imagine how shocked he was to see coming toward him a most remarkable person who was all head and no body--though at first glance the long sandy beard that trailed out behind him took the place of a body. But, indeed, he was no gentleman in any sense of the word. He had wicked looking eyes, and as he shouted again he pointed with one of his great ears.

“Off the track! Off the track! Off the track!” he repeated at the top of his voice.

Now Bobbie could n't see any track, and of course he couldn't have got off of his own accord if he had seen one. This curious person was coming like a fire engine, too, and things certainly seemed in a bad way.

“He's just like those silly geese,” thought Bobbie. “Folks up here in the sky are always telling other folks to get out of the way!”

Now the air was filled with a terrible rushing sound and the curious person was shouting away louder than ever. “Clear the road, clear the road there for the Comet Express!”

“Whizaphats!” thought Bobbie. “Comet Express! Why, he _can't_ stop--expresses never stop--and I can't--and--I'll signal him!”

He grabbed at his red tie and, pulling it off his neck, waved it round and round his head. Too late--the Comet Expressman still dashed madly on.

“Say,” cried Bobbie, “don't you see this signal? Danger! Danger, I tell you! There'll be a collision!”

Bobbie grew more and more excited as he watched the grinning head with the long sandy beard rushing on and on. As it neared the Milky Way a flock of goats scurried wildly across its path and a herd of cows kicked up their heels and ran to the farthest corner of their pink pasture. And just then, with a fearful swoop, the Comet Express bore down upon Bobbie and the wonderful bubble.

Whiz! Buzz! Boom! With a whirl and dash the rushing head came tearing along, then--Zip! Spat!

The bubble was splashing in a burst of water and light. The Comet Expressman looked back with an evil grin, and Bobbie went hurtling down--down--over and over--down--down. There below him was the big, deep sea. Down--down went Bobbie, and you may be sure he had no chance to think of any way to stop himself. Sometimes his head was where his heels ought to be, and sometimes he spun around like a top. And what was worse yet, once in a while, as he whirled about, he caught sight of the Comet Expressman, and that hideous head with the long sandy beard trailing out behind would wiggle its ears and grin.

My! but Bobbie would have given anything to get hold of that long trailing sandy beard and give it a sharp tug or two.

But just holding his breath gave Bobbie enough to do.

Down--down--he fell--over and over--down and down. He caught one more sight of the wiggling ears when--Splash!

But to his surprise Bobbie did n't stop. He kept on going down, down through the soft green water. Away, 'way down he went, to the bottom of the deep sea.

“Well, anyway,” thought he, “I'm done with the Comet Expressman.”

He could see nothing but water, and more water, and he certainly felt wet clear through. Then, having reached the bottom, Bobbie had another surprise. He began going up again as fast as he had gone down, and in a moment found himself on the surface, being carried swiftly along by a great foaming wave that was rushing toward the sandy shore, and--

Bump!

There sat Bobbie in his garden at home!

No wonder he was wet. The bubble bowl was upset and Fluff, the poodle, was just disappearing behind the lilac bush. The soapy water made a nice, cold, soaky puddle.

A big, round, shining moon that made him think of the Comet Expressman seemed to be looking down and laughing at him.

The garden was very quiet. Looking around, Bobbie spied a little white fuzzy head close beside him.

“Fairy paint brush! Humph!” thought Bobbie, and he reached over to pluck a blade of grass. “Why, I declare,” he said, “the little new shoot just peeping out of the ground has almost no color at all. Think of all the grass that's been painted right in our own yard! Those Rainbow Fairies certainly have a good deal of work to do.” As Bobbie stood up, Fluff came bounding back. He leaped upon his little master as joyfully as though he had n't seen him for days and weeks. For a minute Bobbie felt that he really had been away on a long, long journey. Then he glanced down at the soapy little puddle behind him.

“Fluff, sir,” he said with a frown, pretending to be very angry, “look at what you've done, and look at my clothes! But my whizaphats!” he added, seizing Fluff's paws. “If that dream had been true your ocean would have saved my life. If I'd landed on the _ground_ when the Comet Expressman hit me, no telling what _would_ have happened!”

Just then the tea bell rang. “Come on, Fluff,” Bobbie cried, starting for the house, “come on. We can get a drink of milk here, even if it isn't the Milky Way!”