"Mr. Krabs!" SpongeBob called, bursting into his boss's office.

But the office was empty. There was no sign of the old crustacean anywhere.

After a brief hesitation, SpongeBob called out again. "Mr. Krabs?"

No answer.

"Where could he be?" SpongeBob muttered.

Squidward was busy sleeping on the job, while angry customers stood in line, tapping their feet and checking their watches.

"Squid-waaarrrrd!"

The cephalopod woke with a start. "Huh? Wha?" he stammered. When he saw the yellow sponge standing beside the cash register, Squidward groaned. "What is it now, SpongeBob?"

"I can't find Mr. Krabs anywhere…what should we do?"

"We? Why don't you-"

The person at the front of the line (the same person featured in the Bubble Buddy episode) snarled, "Two hours is long enough!"

"Okay, okay!" Squidward snapped. "SpongeBob, we'll find Mr. Krabs later. Get back behind the grill or we'll lose all our money!"

"Lose money? Nooo!" a familiar voice wailed.

"Mr. Krabs!" SpongeBob cried joyfully.

"Bleh-heh-heh…not for long…" a harsh voice cackled.

Out of nowhere, a mysterious man appeared. He had a bluish-purple face with one bulging, glowing red eye. The other eye was covered with a glass monocle. He wore a white top hat, a multicolored cape, and white gloves, and he carried a jeweled scepter. He also wore an air helmet on his head.

Next to him was a long, flat cage. Trapped inside was none other than Mr. Krabs!

"Hey! Just what do you think you're doing with him?" Squidward demanded.

"Bleh-heh-heh! I have captured your boss because only he holds the secrets to the Krabby Patty formula."

SpongeBob gasped. "I bet Plankton is behind this!"

"That's right!" Plankton sneered, appearing on the evil man's shoulder. "You see, Count Bleck and I have made a deal. If he uses his powers and minions to help me get the Krabby Patty formula, I use my super technology to help him destroy the world!"

"You won't get away with this, Plankton!" Mr. Krabs spat from inside the cage.

"Oh, no, Eugene, I already have!" Plankton roared. "AHAHAHAHA!" Clearing his throat, he added, "Count, that little clown of yours has really taught me the basics of a good evil laugh!"

"Glad to hear that, Sheldon," the Count said. Turning to SpongeBob and Squidward, he snarled, "So, can you save your precious boss before I destroy him completely?"

At that moment, Mr. Krabs began to sob.

"Yes, we can!" SpongeBob declared. "'Cause we're not going down without a fight!"

Sandy, who had been conveniently strolling by with Patrick, burst in. "Did somebody say fight?"

Patrick followed her. "Ooh! Are we going to play a game?"

"Sandy! Patrick! Squidward!" SpongeBob cried. "Please…you've got to help me save Mr. Krabs!"

"SpongeBob, me boy!" Mr. Krabs whimpered. "Don't kill yerself!"

"Don't worry, Mr. K. We're coming to get ya!"

"Bleh-heh-heh! Then let's not delay! BLEH-HEH-HEH! BLECK!" He raised his arms.

The customers, their food long forgotten, screamed and scurried out of the Krusty Krab.

The four heroes were sucked into a purple vortex, determined to save the Krabby Patty formula…and the world.