"When Professor Taykin was young he was the duckiest little boy in a plaid frock with the dearest little fat legs. But he had changed since those times and was now a very wicked magician with a weakness for royal christenings. The magician's plan was to make everyone as unhappy as he possibly could, and in the space of two royal christenings, had succeeded in making Fortunatus the stupidest Prince in the world, and Aura the most ugly Princess" --Inside front dust jacket.