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Rh gas in the air as he operated some valve in the mechanism of the balloon. The gas bag dropped gracefully to a mass of silken and rubber folds.

Then the man started to descend, Frank preceding him. Both reached the ground in safety. The balloonist took an approving look at Frank, patted Christmas and began arranging his disordered attire.

"What are you going to do next?" asked Frank, after his companion had walked around the tree two or three times, viewing its top speculatively the while, and whistling softly to himself.

"Well, the bag is safe for a time. I guess I'd better get to the nearest town and telegraph the boss. It will be a job getting the balloon out of that fix without further damage."

"If you will rest a bit till I fix up a broken bicycle I have over yonder, I will pilot you to Greenville," said Frank.

"Good for you," commended the man, and he followed Frank to the spot where the wheel lay.

Frank set at work on the damaged bicycle. He now had the necessary tools and material at hand to fix it up. At the end of ten minutes he had the wheel in safe shape to roll it home, where he could repair it more permanently.