Balloon Blow-Up by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

said. “He carries a Nutty lunchbox and wears a different Nutty T-shirt every day.”
    Sammy stopped in front of Chet. He planted his hands on his hips, then said, “Oh yeah? Nutty the Squirrel can stuff a hundred acorns into his mouth—and whistle the Nutty theme song at the same time.”
    â€œOh yeah?” Chet shot back. “The Green Crawler can climb a skyscraper in thirty seconds!”
    â€œNutty can do it in ten seconds!” Sammy snapped.
    As Chet and Sammy continued to argue, Joe turned to Frank. “Too bad there can’t be two balloons in the parade,” he whispered.
    â€œOof!” Frank grunted as someone bumped past him. He frowned when he saw Adam Ackerman—the biggest bully at Bayport Elementary School. With him was his friend, the second-biggest bully, Tony Riccio.
    Adam and Tony pushed their way through the crowd toward the stage, stepping on several toes along the way.
    â€œWhy don’t you look where you’re going?” Frank yelled.
    â€œWhy don’t you mind your own business,” Adam shot back, “detectives Hardy and Hardy?”
    Frank rolled his eyes. Adam was always teasing him and Joe about solving mysteries. Probably because he was always the suspect.
    â€œWhat if Adam wins and gets to be a balloon handler?” Frank asked, and frowned.
    â€œAdam?” Joe snorted. “He’s got enough hot air to be his own balloon!”
    Sammy walked by, holding Chet’s bag of Cheesy Curls. Chet was holding a small bag of Nutty Squirrel Nuts.
    â€œWhat happened?” Frank asked.
    â€œWe made a truce,” Chet said, popping a nut into his mouth. “But Sammy still wants Nutty in the parade.”
    A tune suddenly blared from the loudspeaker. It was the Green Crawler theme song.
    â€œWe want the Green Crawler!” Joe yelled. Soon all the kids, except those in the Nutty the Squirrel fan club, were cheering for the Crawler too!
    The cheering grew louder as a trapdoor in the stage floor slowly opened.
    â€œHere he comes!” Joe shouted.
    A thick gray mist covered the stage. Through it the outline of a figure could be seen.
    â€œIt’s him!” Chet said. “It’s the Crawler!”
    Joe looked harder, then shook his head.
    â€œThat’s not the Green Crawler,” Joe said. “That’s the villain—Mo Mantis!”

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Superhero, Superzero!
    B ooooo!” the kids shouted as Mo stepped forward.
    â€œGreetings, Bayport!” Mo laughed, waving his steely sharp claws at the crowd. “Eeeeeevil greetings!”
    Joe stared at Mo. With his mantis mask and hood, he looked exactly like he did in the Green Crawler movies!
    â€œBoo and hiss all you want!” Mo declared. He pressed his pointy hands together. “I’m praaaaaaying that the Green Crawler balloon is destroyed so I can fly over Bayport in all my villainous glory!”
    Suddenly— poof! A thick cloud of green smoke swallowed up Mo Mantis.
    â€œWhere did he go?” Frank wondered out loud.
    The smoke cleared. Mo was gone. In his place was—
    â€œThe Green Crawler!” Joe exclaimed.
    Everyone cheered as the Green Crawler stepped out of the smoke. Tucked in his enormous muscled arm was a giant can marked PEST SPRAY .
    â€œYou all know I’m one strong dude,” the Green Crawler told the crowd. “Well, I’m looking for a strong kid to hold down my balloon in the Fall Fest parade!”
    Hands shot up as kids shouted, “Me! Me! Me!”
    â€œThen what are we waiting for?” the Green Crawler said. “Let this mean green contest begin!”
    Another man joined the Green Crawler. He was introduced as Mitch Snyder, the owner of Snyder’s Department Store. The biggest department store in Bayport sponsored the Fall Fest parade every year.

    â€œHey, kids,” Mitch said, holding up a big envelope. “I’ve got the winning drawing right here.”
    Joe wished he had