"Then why do you?" said the General. "Give me the message and you shall be free."
"No," said Billy, "I cannot do that; I have undertaken to carry it, and my honor demands that I do so while I live."
"You are right," said the General; "then the best way out of the difficulty is to kill you."
"No," said the Princess, "that shall not be done."
"Thank you, Princess," whispered Billy, "you shall not regret it. Let me do my duty—let me carry the message. Then, when it is delivered, I shall be free to fight for you; indeed, when I am once in Bogie Man's Castle I shall be in the very best position to help you."
"Good," said the Princess.
"Good," said the General.
"Good," said all the soldiers.
"But why are Nickel Plate, Bumbus and Bogie Man your enemies?" asked Billy.
"Because they want to carry me far away from the Bee Palace and make me work in the factory," answered the Princess, sadly, "putting the wicked Glucose, who looks almost exactly like me, in my place in the castle."