All the ladies and gentlemen of the kingdom came, and theladies wore dresses of red and yellow and blue and orange andgreen and violet. There was a great birthday cake, the size ofan elephant and a half, and it had ten candles on it, becausethat was how old the princess was. Everyone brought herwondrous gifts. There was everything that a person couldpossibly want at a birthday party. Except for fireworks, thatis. Or a fire-breathing dragon.

"Do you think he will really produce a dragon?" asked thethird adviser.

"Of course not," said the second. "How could he havegotten a dragon? And if he did, where is he keeping it?"

The captain of the King's Guard laughed. "You were goingto seek a dragon all by yourself, eh?" he said. "Well, where isit?"

William did not answer him. Instead, he tapped his glasswith his spoon until the room was quiet. Then he cleared histhroat. He appeared to be a bit nervous.

"Uh, the time has come for the fireworks display," he toldthem all, "in honor of her young majesty's tenth birthday.Happy birthday, Princess. This is going to be a very specialand rather unusual display."

The king laughed and slapped his leg. "Yes, yes!" he criedout. "Bring it on, William! Bring it on! Medium-sized, and withcolored lights, mind you!"

"Yes, your highness," said William, taking a tiny packagefrom beneath the table and placing it before him. It is inhere."

"It seems a pretty small package," said the king.

"Yes," said the first adviser.

"Yes indeed," said the second.

"Much too small," said the third.

The king opened the package. Bell jumped out and stoodupon the table.

The three advisers laughed. The knights laughed. Theylaughed and laughed until the tears came into their eyes.

"That is supposed to be a medium-sized dragon, with