For three days, Dorothy did not hear from Oz. She was very sad. But her friends were very happy with their new gifts. The Scarecrow felt very wise. The Tin Woodman felt that his new heart was very kind. And the Lion said he was not afraid of anything. Everyone was happy except Dorothy. She wanted to go back to Kansas.
On the fourth day, Oz sent for Dorothy. "I have found a way to get you out of this country," he said.
"And back to Kansas?" she asked.
"I am not sure about Kansas," Oz said. "But I know how to get you across the big desert. We must go through the air."
"How?" Dorothy asked.
"I came to this country in a balloon (a big bag full of hot air or gas that can fly)," Oz said. "I think I can make a new one." He explained that they needed silk and glue. They did not have special gas to make the balloon fly. "But we can use hot air," he said. "It is not as good as gas, but it will work."
"We?" Dorothy asked, surprised. "Are you coming with me?"
"Yes," said Oz. "I am tired of being a humbug. I have to hide in my rooms all day. I want to go back to my home and be in a circus again." Dorothy was happy to have him come with her.
So Dorothy and Oz started to work. Oz cut long pieces of green silk. Dorothy sewed them together. After three days, they had a very big silk bag. It was more than twenty feet long. Oz put glue on the inside to keep the air from getting out.
Then, they got a big basket for them to ride in. They tied it to the bottom of the balloon with many ropes.
Oz told all the people of the Emerald City that he was going to visit another great wizard in the clouds. Everyone came to watch. They brought the balloon out in front of the Palace. The Tin Woodman made a big fire. Oz held the bottom of the balloon over the fire. Hot air from the fire went into the balloon.
The balloon got bigger and bigger. It started to rise into the air. Soon, the basket was on the ground, ready to go. Oz got into the basket. He shouted to the people, "I am going away for a visit. While I am gone, the Scarecrow will be your new ruler. You must obey him."
The balloon was pulling hard on its ropes. It wanted to fly. "Come on, Dorothy!" Oz cried. "Hurry, or the balloon will go without you!"
"I can't find Toto!" Dorothy said. She did not want to leave her little dog. Toto was in the crowd, barking at a cat. Dorothy finally found him and ran toward the balloon.
She was very close. Oz was holding out his hands to help her. But then, the ropes broke! The balloon went up into the air without Dorothy.
"Come back!" she screamed. "I want to go too!"
"I can't come back, my dear!" Oz called down from the sky. "Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!" all the people shouted. They watched the Wizard go higher and higher until he was gone. No one in Oz ever saw him again.
The people were sad to lose their Wizard. But they were happy about their new ruler. They said, "Oz was a good friend. He built our beautiful city. And now, he has left the Wise Scarecrow to rule us."