Billy followed one of the elves into Santa's workshop.
The elves were very busy packing up toys.
Billy wanted to help, but the elves were too busy to tell him how.
Billy decided to go look for his father.
He saw his father talking to Santa Claus near the reindeer stables.
Billy didn't want to bother him, so he went into the stables instead.
Billy had never seen reindeer before, and he thought they were very big.
Billy looked at the biggest one and said, "Wow, you're much bigger than I thought you would be."
The reindeer nodded and said, "Yes, many people say that."
"Did you say something?" asked Billy. Animals aren't supposed to talk!
"Yes, I did," said the reindeer matter-of-factly.
"My name is Dasher. What's your name?"
Billy understood. They were Santa's reindeer, so of course they could talk.
"My name is Billy. Santa said you were sick.
Are you feeling better?" he asked.
"We're not sick," said Dasher sadly.
"We're just really sad. We can't fly if we're sad."
"Oh, just like Peter Pan," said Billy.
"When he taught Wendy and the boys to fly, he said they had to think happy thoughts."
Dasher nodded. "Yes, that's right, but it's hard to think happy thoughts when everyone is so busy.
Santa doesn't have time for us anymore. We're lonely and we miss him."
Billy looked at Dasher and said, "If I bring Santa in here right now, will that make you happy?"
"Nothing can bring Santa in here on Christmas Eve.
He's too busy," said Dasher tearfully.
Billy didn't want to see Dasher cry, so he said, "But if I bring Santa in here, would that make you happy?"
Dasher was sobbing quietly, so he didn't answer, but Comet, Cupid, and Vixen said, "Yes, that would make us very happy."
Billy left the stable and ran to find his father and Santa Claus.
He found them in Santa's workshop, looking into a microscope.
"Well, it's not an infection," said Doctor Vinton, stepping away from the microscope.
"I know what's wrong with the reindeer, Daddy," said Billy.
"They're too sad to fly. It's just like Peter Pan."
Billy's father looked at Billy and said gently, "Billy, Peter Pan is a fairy tale.
This is real, and the problem is real."
Santa stopped looking in the microscope and asked Billy, "Why are they sad?"
"They're sad because you no longer have time to visit with them," said Billy.
"They miss you and they want to see you."
Santa turned to Billy's father and said, "Peter Pan is not a fairy tale.
I knew Peter many years ago.
He was such a wonderful boy, but like all boys, he grew up.
I think Billy has solved our problem.
If my reindeer are unhappy, they can't fly. Only happy reindeer can fly."
Santa Claus left his workshop and went to the stables.
Billy and his father waited. After a very long time, Santa returned.
He was very happy. "Billy, you have saved Christmas.
Thank you for making my reindeer happy. Ho, ho, ho!"
Billy watched the elves load Santa's sleigh.
Even though the elves kept putting more and more toys into the sleigh, the pile never got bigger.
When the elves finished loading the sleigh, Santa came with his reindeer.
Dasher came up to Billy and said, "Thank you, Billy.
Giving Santa back to us was a wonderful Christmas present.
I hope Santa gives you something special."
"Oh, I'm sure he will," said Billy happily.
As Santa and his reindeer took off, Santa shouted down to Billy, his father, and the elves:
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! Ho, ho, ho!"