3 Up and Away

Chapter 3 Up and Away Billy rushed over to the magician. He had to get Fang-Face back. But Jack's mum was making everyone go outside. Time for the treasure hunt in the garden. There was nothing Billy could do. But then, outside, he saw...

...Captain Snott and Trumpet! HELP! Oh no! They're floating away.

He had to rescue them. What if they were... ...eaten by a bird... ...or swept out to sea... ...or carried into OUTER SPACE? Billy tried catching the balloon, but he couldn't jump high enough.

He tried spearing the balloon with a stick... He missed. "This isn't good," thought Billy. Then the wind started to blow harder. He ran this way... ...and that way, chasing the balloon across the garden. But the balloon kept slipping from his grasp.

The balloon was heading over the garden wall... but, at the last moment, its string caught in a tree. "Phew!" said Billy. A very tall tree. "Oh no!" said Billy as he looked up. There was only one thing for it. He took a deep breath and began to climb.

By now, a small crowd had gathered beneath him. "Go on, Billy!" cried Jack. No one's ever made it to the top of that tree before. Careful, Billy! Billy kept on climbing. Even though the branches were getting very thin...