Let's just say this is set between Golem's Eye and Ptolemy's Gate.
"Did you know that Santa Claus was a djinni?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, there was this crazy magician…wait, I mean, crazier than most of you, and he decided to become a legend. So he comes up with this elaborate story. Old fat guy in a red coat, flying reindeer, elves, leaving toys, you know the story, right Nat?"
"Yes."
"Well, Santa himself was a djinni in a ridiculous guise his master made him take on. Ever wonder how he got down the chimney? He changed guises. And the magician behind it had a ton of imps and foloits making toys and things. And the sleigh pulled by reindeer, those weren't reindeer. They were djinn. There were more djinn in the sleigh to keep it up. There really was a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, but only for one year. That was the year he had me working for him. I decided to mess with him. He never summoned me again. I don't know where the Rudolph part came from.
Nathaniel laughed. "Bartimaeus, you're an idiot."
"You don't believe me?"
"No."
"Hey Nat."
Nathaniel looked up and his jaw dropped. There was Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer, laughing his head off at him.
Author Note: My brain produces the strangest things. Review for virtual cookies. No really, there's a link in my profile.