CONTENTS

PAGE

THE MAGIC SOAP PIPE 9

THE MAGIC CAKE 25

THE MAGIC NECTAR 39

THE MAGIC AXE 53

THE MAGIC SPRING 63

MAGIC FOOD 73

MAGIC EARS 85

THE MAGIC BASKET 95

THE MAGIC RING 123

THE MAGIC BALLOON 139

THE MAGIC SOAP PIPE

The King of the Gnomes prepares the Magic Pipe for making the Magic Soap
Bubble.

[Illustration]

THE MAGIC SOAP PIPE

NED had been reading a very interesting book about fairies and goblins,
and how these real queer little folk inhabit dense forests and lofty
mountain caves and lead a wonderful life apart from the homes and cities
of men.

The book was very large and heavy, and the afternoon was very warm, and
the big armchair in which he was curled up was so comfortable that by
and by he let the book slip to one side.

He had just closed his eyes for a moment to rest them, when he was
startled by a little squeaky voice at his elbow.

He opened his eyes with a start and saw a Gnome standing on the
window-sill just in front of him. Yes, there was no mistake about it, it
was a Gnome. For had not Ned a moment before seen his picture in the big
book he had been reading? Indeed, it almost seemed as if the picture
itself had stepped out of the page from between the covers, so exactly a
duplicate did the little man appear.

"Hello, Ned!" said the little squeaky voice again. "I say, hello! You
ought to know me well enough by this time to answer, since you've been
reading about me for the last hour."

"Hello, yourself!" replied Ned, laughing in spite of himself, and
rubbing his eyes again to make sure that it was not a picture from the
book.

[Illustration]

"Can't you see a fellow is sleepy after reading so long a time? I
didn't think you were coming out of the book to speak to me, you know."

"Neither did I," retorted the Gnome, with a funny wink. "I came from the
forest to invite you to take a little journey with me through Gnomeland.
I am the King of the Gnomes, and my subjects have told me how interested
you are in reading about us, so I have come to take you for a trip
through our kingdom. I know you will love to see all the wonderful
things you have been reading about. Will you come?"

"Indeed, I will," said Ned.

"Then follow