Synopsis: From the flaps of the Coward-McCann first edition: "Most writers know the plague of those twin queries, "Where do you get your ideas?" and "Do you write all the time, or only when you get an inspiration?" But along with these Nelson Bond has for years been subject to another attack: the question, "What are Lobblies?" Ever since the appearance of Mr. Mergenthwirker's Lobblies in Scribner's Magazine in 1937 this unanswerable question has been his to answer. The fact that the title story of this collection has been reprinted widely, and broadcasted (at latest count) no less than 38 times has added to his discomfort. The currently scheduled appearance of Mr. Mergenthwirker and his invisible companions as a telecast serial will undoubtedly stimulate another spate of plaintive letters beginning "Dear Sir: I have looked carefully through my dictionary and cannot find the word 'Lobblies.' Would you be so kind as to tell me -," or even another "Enclosed please find ten cents, for which please send me a Lobbly"! Besides the famous Lobblies Mr. Bond put the reader on intimate terms with a hilarious talking horse, e bewildered fourth dimension baseball pitcher, a clock which runs time backwards (with disastrous effects), a backwoods genius, a labor leader in Hell, a tormented writer in search of peace, men who walk through walls, a frightening fountain of youth, and a miraculous bookshop - and he is well qualified to do so. Since 1938 he has published approximately 250 short stories, novelettes, and serial novels in all classes of magazines. In recent years his stories have been widely anthologized, and very many have been adapted for radio presentation for which their easy, colloquial style makes them peculiarly suitable. Mr. Bond started writing for radio at the outbreak of the war (several of the stories in this collection were shortwaved to the forces overseas), and since that time has written numerous original scripts for nationwide programs over every major network. The stories in this collection are all fantastic, all outre, all - one would be tempted to say offhand - impossible. Yet the dubious reader is advised to withhold final judgment. It is well to remember that "The Magic Staircase," written in 1939, forevisioned the winning of the late war by means of U235 atomic energy. In the brave new world of the future, we may yet be entering other and better worlds through Dr. Fuddle's marvelous machine, or taking pictures of tomorrow's happenings with Johnny Cartwright's Camera."