“I can’t tell you where Bogie Man lives, it’s against the rules.”
Billy Bounce.
By W. W. Denslow and Dudley A Bragdon.
Pictures by Denslow.
G. W. Dillingham Co. Publishers: New York. 1906.
“I can’t tell you where Bogie Man lives, it’s against the rules.”
Elephant's Picture Book 
Oh my goodness! This book intrigues me, if it can contain an illustration such as this one.
It is an odd book – the illustrator’s work is in many of the “Oz” books, but this isn’t Oz! The Bogie Man is exposed here as a rather tiny man – who knew!
Several times now, I’ve been struck and caught by this image, particularly by (what I assume to be) the bogie man. He’s so oddly fascinating with his big all-seeing yet dead eyes. And when viewed from distance he appears insectile. And finally I’m undecided whether the tall man is actually a ghost. I’m enjoying your blog quite a bit.
Thank you! I agree with you – I too assumed he was the bogie man – I admit I haven’t read all of the book, but to fill you in a bit (or to give you more food for thought). The man is “Nickel Plate” and the bug’ish creature is “Mr. Bumbus.”
[Just after Billy leaves the room] . . . Then looking up at the door he read painted in bold, black letters on the glass “Nickel Plate, Polished Villain. Short and long orders in all kinds of villainy promptly executed. Abductions a specialty.” And lower down in smaller letters, “I. B. Bumbus, Assistant Villain, office hours between 3 o’clock.”
The plot thickens,
Elephant
Ha! Yes. Now, I’m curious to read more. Nickel Plate (Polished) – is he a gun toting villain?
I’ve been working on some new pieces you may like, and will post them soon. I have such a backlog of works to complete and post too. But some of the images and ideas you express here have me thinking about revisiting nursery rhymes.
When I saw Nickel Plate I thought he was a butler! Then I realized what I saw as a tray was his top hat flattened out. We both wondered if he was a ghost. Now come to find he is a polished villain! He seems to drop out of the story (although he may return) . . .
Nursery Rhymes! Sounds good!
Elephant
Ah excellent! I too mistook the hat for a service tray. I assumed I knew what it was and did not look close enough. Nickel Plate uses his coin, the most abstract and confusing part of the composition, to mesmerize (perhaps the cause of I B Bumbus’ large and dilated eyes), distract and halt the eye from investigating further… from seeing what is right in front of it.
A little trick, a little razzledazzle and away we go. The boy is smiling, he has no fear.
Nickel plate is a such clever choice of names.
Glad someone else assumed he was a butler! But it is his hat! The coin is puzzling. There is much to wonder about right here! I’d like to get this whole book put together as an ebook – it is a very weird book – some of it barely makes sense – or maybe I just don’t understand their weird speak. Nickel Plate is great name – I B Bumbus is a weirdo for sure! Billy Bounce is all puffed up because of a balloon man! I have two more images on the way – and there are many more in the book!
We will have to work our way through the images – coin toss . . . coin toss!
Elephant