"I'd like that very much," replied Jimmieboy, kindly. "I think you are an awfully nice size."
Again the little old man smiled with pleasure. "You are the pleasantest boy I know," he said; "and you will find out before long that it is worth while to make friends with old Thumbhi, Lord High Wizard of the Sea, and Court Jester to the King of the Waves."
"Are you all that?" said Jimmieboy, pleased to discover that his new-found friend was a person of so great importance.
"Yes indeed," answered Thumbhi. "I am all that, and half a dozen things more. In fact, I am so much that if we had a million dream years together I couldn't even begin to tell you all that I am. But come. Are you ready to be made smaller?"
"Yes," said Jimmieboy, a little nervously. "What do I do first?"
"You must put on a coat I give you," replied the wizard. "It will be a little small for you, perhaps, but you can get it on."
The wizard opened one of the bureau drawers, and took therefrom a coat, in which Jimmieboy hastened to array himself. It was, as the old man had said, a little small for him, but he managed to get into it, and after wearing it a minute or two he found it quite comfortable.
"Now take it off," said the wizard, taking a second coat out of the drawer, "and put this one on."
Jimmieboy took off the coat. "Is this larger than the other?" he asked, as he began to put the second coat on.
"No; it is a trifle smaller," replied the wizard. "That's my scheme. You keep putting on coats that are smaller than the one you have just taken off. You stay in them until they fit you comfortably, and finally when you get the last one on you will be small enough to get into the drawer."