They started on the long jouney home, this time travelling at a lesser speed, because towing a tree through space slowed them down considerably. Things were going smoothly until Joe, the radio, crisply announced, "Help, danger up ahead. Here is the latest news report. We are about to be surrounded by alien beings, armed with massive cushions. They look extremely aggressive. Stand by for evasive action. Good luck. End of announcement."

Doctor Snuggles and the animals rushed to the rocket windows. Their worst suspicions were confirmed. Right in front of them hovered Skybed Fred and his band of pillow pirates, challenging Snuggles and his crew to a pillow-fight.

Skybed Fred was famous for his galactic pillow-fights, and on this occasion he had an excellent reason for wanting to win. "We’ll attack you immediately," he yelled, "if you don’t hand over that silly Looking tree of yours. I need it for building more beds for my army of pillow-fighters. You get the idea? More fighters and more cushions… equals more fun! Heh, heh, heh.’

Doctor Snuggles would never dream of abandoning the tree. He had no choice but to accept the pillow-pirates’ challenge. "Quick Jeffersonlet’s take them on." said Doctor Snuggles to his umbrella, as they took up their battle positions. Before you could say "piffle" the fight had begun. Snuggles thought it was not going to be easy, as an armada of cushions came hurtling towards them. The doctor and his trusty umbrella went into action with amazing skill,popping each cushion as it came. With the agility of an over-burdened matador, Snuggles thrust and punched his umbrella into the offending cushions until the air was filled with clouds of falling feathers. Hundreds of cushions were flung at Doctor Snuggles, but he stood as firm as rock and popped them as they came. The umbrella was so nifty that Skybed Fred quickly ran out of ammunition.

"More cushions needed at the front!" hollered Skybed Fred.

"We’ve none left, chief. He’s popped them all," one of his pirates yelled back.

It was victory for Doctor Snuggles and his versatile umbrella. For the first time in his feathered career, Skybed Fred bad lost a fight. He and his pillow-pirates took to their beds and sobbed with rage over their terrible defeat. Here’s a thought for what it’s worth. The next time you see a sudden barrage of falling snow, remember it could well be that Skybed Fred is on the losing end, way up above the skies. The snow, you see, is merely feathers from his cushions. And if that snow then turns to rain you can be almost certain that the unhappy Fred has lost another pillow-light.