Who is Messer Gaster from Gargantua and Pantagruel and what is their importance?

Messer Gaster is a Master of Arts. Pantagruel and his men visit Gaster in the Fourth Book of Pantagruel. Gaster is worshipped as a Ventripotent god by the Gastrolaters. In the Fourth Book, Masser tells Pantagruel how he invented the means of gathering and conserving grain when the countryside lacked bread. He also explained how he invented the art of remaining safe during enemy attacks.