"Oh! you're here, are you?" said the man, lowering the tube and looking at Billy. "I've been waiting for you to come down."
"Yes, sir," said Billy; "excuse me, but what city is this?"
"Shamville. So you are a meteor."
"No, sir, I'm a messenger," said Billy.
"Pardon me, but you are a meteor, by right of discovery, and I ought to know, for I'm a near Astronomer."
"A near what?"
"Not a near what, but a near Astronomer; with my near telescope I have nearly discovered hundreds of nearly new stars," said the man, looking very, very wise.
"Oh! I see," said Billy, smiling. "Well sir, you may be a near astronomer, but in this case you are not near right."
"Well, you're a near meteor and that will do well enough in Shamville."
By this time they had entered the city.