Dad K. slid his Ad Factory ID, made to look like an old-fashioned time card that you slid into an old-fashioned punch clock, into the buzzer at the Ad Factory main entrance.

Nothing happened.

Dad K. wiped the ID on his billboard installer overalls and tried again.

Still nothing.

Dad K. banged on the fake garage door.

Nobody answered.

It was awfully dark in there for the middle of the day.

Dad K. banged again.

“Maybe everyone is at the company holiday party,” said Mom K.

“Yeah, maybe,” said Dad K. “But I think that’s tomorrow. And Mechanic Joe, our receptionist, is always at the front desk. But it looks like the lobby is empty.”

“That’s weird,” said Mom K., getting a little nervous. “Let’s go over to my office and use the ZIA computers.”

Mom K. and Dad K. picked up their ropes and headed for the Hair Today Styling Salon.