“Never give way to despair while whiskers can be made from dry grass,” said Bunyip Bluegum, and suiting the action to the word, he swiftly made a pair of fine moustaches out of dried grass and stuck them on with wattle gum.  “Now, lend me your hat,” he said to Bill, and taking the hat he turned up the brim, dented in the top, and put it on.  “The bag is also required,” he said to Sam, and taking that in his hand and turning his coat inside out, he stood before them completely disguised.

“You two,” he said, “must remain in hiding behind the tree.  You will hear me knock, accost the ruffians and hold them in conversation.  The moment you hear me exclaim loudly, “Hey, Presto!  Pots and Pans,” you will dart out and engage the villains at fisticuffs.  The rest leave to me.”

Waiting till the others were hidden behind the tree, Bunyip rapped smartly on the door which opened presently, and the Wombat put his head out cautiously.

“Have I the extreme pleasure of addressing Watkin Wombat, Esq.?” inquired Bunyip Bluegum, with a bow.

Of course, seeing a perfect stranger at the door, the Wombat had no suspicions, and said at once.  “Such is the name of him you see before you.”

“I have called to see you,” said Bunyip, “on a matter of business.  The commodity which I vend is Pootles’ Patent Pudding Enlarger, samples of which I have in the bag.  As a guarantee of good faith we are giving samples of our famous Enlarger away to all well-known puddin’-owners.  The Enlarger, one of the wonders of modern science, has but to be poured over the puddin’, with certain necessary incantations, and the puddin’ will be instantly enlarged to double its normal size.”  He took some sugar from the bag and held it up.  “I am now about to hand you some of this wonderful discovery.  But,” he added impressively, “the operation of enlarging the puddin’ is a delicate one, and must be performed in the open air.  Produce your puddin’, and I will at once apply Pootles’ Patent with marvellous effect.”

“Of course it’s understood that no charge is to be made,” said the Possum, hurrying out.

“No charge whatever,” said Bunyip Bluegum.

So on the principle of always getting something for nothing, as the Wombat said, Puddin’ was brought out and placed on the ground.

“Now, watch me closely,” said Bunyip Bluegum.  He sprinkled the Puddin’ with sugar, made several passes with his hands, and pronounced these words—­

“Who incantations utters
He generally mutters
  His gruesome blasts and bans. 
But I, you need not doubt it,
Prefer aloud to shout it,
  Hey, Presto!  Pots and Pans.”

Out sprang Bill and Sam and set about the Puddin’-thieves like a pair of windmills, giving them such a clip clap clouting and a flip flap flouting, that what with being punched and pounded, and clipped and clapped, they had only enough breath left to give two shrieks of despair while scrambling back into Watkin Wombat’s Summer Residence, and banging the door behind them.  The three friends had Puddin’ secured in no time, and shook hands all round, congratulating Bunyip Bluegum on the success of his plan.