"They were. Awfully wicked," said the little old man. "They were wickeder than they seem, because really, you know, they intended that I should stay locked up there forever and ever."
"But how did they come to do it?" asked Jimmieboy.
"It's a long story," answered the little old man. "But if you want me to, I'll tell it."
"Do," said Jimmieboy.
"Very well, then, I will," said the little old man. "But not here. It is too wet here. We'll go inside the drawer ourselves, where we can be dry and comfortable, and we'll take the key in with us and lock ourselves in so that nobody can interfere with us. Will you come?"
"I don't see how I can," said Jimmieboy, looking down at his own body and then pointing to the drawer. "Don't you see I am two or three dozen times too big to get in there?"
"That doesn't make any difference," said the little old man with a laugh. "For I am a wizard, and I can make you large or small, just as I please. If you will say the word I'll make you so small you couldn't see yourself with a magnifying-glass."
Jimmieboy thought a moment, and concluded very wisely, I think, that he would rather not be so small as that.
"I don't like to lose sight of myself," he said.
"Very well, then," said the other. "Suppose I make you just about my size? How would that do?"