r natural shape.

The Princess threw her arms around her dear brother and hugged Ned, so
great was her delight.

Ned ran over to his little friend, the Gnome, and thanked him again and
again for his aid, and was about to lean out of the doorway to also
thank the Fairy Queen when the Gnome restrained him.

"Not so fast, Ned, my boy! All is not yet over."

"No, indeed," answered Ned, "we must rescue the giant."

"Aye, there's the rub," replied the Gnome. "How are we ever to get him
in the bubble, either as a tree or as a giant?"

At this point the Fairy Queen joined in the conversation, kissing Ned at
the same time as he attempted to thank her.

"Let me first change him into his natural form," she said. "Then he can
walk across the courtyard and out upon the drawbridge. From there he can
easily step off into the bubble, which your majesty can lower to the
right height above the water of the moat."

"Good!" said the Gnome. "Go and do your part and I will attend to the
bubble."

Just as the bubble cleared it the pine tree became once more the
friendly giant, who immediately strode across the courtyard.

Quickly lowering the drawbridge he hastened out upon it.

The creaking of the chains, however, had aroused the wicked King, who
looked out of his window to see what was the cause of the noise. In
another moment he was rushing toward the gates at the head of the castle
guard.

"Quick!" shouted the Gnome to the giant. "Get in!"

But, alas! The doorway was too small. In vain the giant wiggled and
squirmed. In vain Ned and the princess' brother pulled his arms. His
great shoulders could not be forced through the doorway. Finally, with a
tremendous shove he managed to go half way in, but no further, for at
this point his head was against the opposite side of the bubble.

On came the wicked King and his castle attendants, who, seeing the
predicament of the giant, fitted arrows to their strong bows, preparing
to shoot the hapless fellow.

"Blow the bubble larger!" shouted Ned. "Put the pipe in his mouth and
tell him to blow like thunder."

The Gnome placed the pipestem between the lips of the giant and
commanded him to blow for his life, and before an arrow left a bow the
bubble widened sufficiently to enable the giant to crawl inside.
Slamming the door shut the Gnome cried out exultingly: "We are safe!"

Away sailed the Magic Soap Bubble, with the Fairy Queen and her little
robin perched securely on the top, a