Everyone began to eat. My goodness, it was a wonderful feast! The strawberries and vanilla ice-cream and the sundae went almost at once, for Mister Whiskers and fifty elves decided that they liked those very much too! So Bessie had to wish for some more.

‘What about my birthday cake?’ she asked Silky. ‘Do I wish for that too?’

‘No, it just comes,’ said Silky. ‘It will appear right in the middle of the table. You just watch.’

Bessie watched. There was a wonderful silver dish in the middle of the table. Something seemed to be forming there. A curious sort of mist hung over it.

‘The birthday cake is coming!’ shouted Jo, and everyone watched the silver dish. Gradually, a great cake shaped itself there – oh, a wonderful cake, with red, pink, white and yellow decorations made from sugar, and shaped like little flowers. On the top were eight candles burning, for Bessie was eight that day. Her name was written in big sugar letters on the top: ‘BESSIE. A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!’

Bessie felt very proud. She had to cut the cake, of course. It was quite a difficult job, for there were so many people to cut a slice for.

‘This is a wishing-cake!’ said Moon-Face, when everyone had a piece on their plate. ‘So wish, wish, wish, when you eat it – and your wish will come true!’

The children stared at him in delight. What should they wish? Fannie was holding her cake in her hand, thinking of a wish, when the Old Saucepot Man upset everything. Whatever do you think he did?