"Mrs. Thumbkins has not been home all day!" said Thumbkins. "And I can not find her anywhere!"
"HUMMMM!" replied Billy Bumblebee. "Let me think! HUMMMM!" This was his way of thinking very hard.
"Perhaps she has gone over to see Granpa Tobackyworm, Mr Thumbkins!"
"No!" replied Thumbkins, "I went there, and also over to the Katydid store, but she was not there!"
"Suppose you climb upon my back, Thumbkins, and let me help you find her!" said Billy Bumblebee, as he buzzed his wings, making the flower sway up and down. So Thumbkins climbed up the flower stalk and took a seat upon Billy Bumblebee's back.
"Let us fly way up in the air so that we may look down over all the country!" said Billy Bumblebee, as he made his wings whirr and climbed high in the air.
Billy Bumblebee and Thumbkins looked over the country carefully, but they could not see Mrs. Thumbkins anywhere.
Finally Billy's sharp eyes discovered something shiny down by the side of the pond, so they flew down towards it. It was a new tin can house. The door was closed.
Thumbkins alighted from Billy Bumblebee's back and knocked at the door.
TINKY-TINKY-TINK!