All the engines on the Fat Controller's railway are proud of being really useful. Gordon likes being the best express. Percy likes pulling the mail trucks on time. And Thomas likes being given a special special.
One morning, Thomas arrived at Brendam Docks, he was excited.
"Today, I am to look after a new engine," tooted Thomas.
"That's a special job Mehearty", smiled Salty. "Here he is."
The new engine was shiny orange and puffing with pride.
"I'm Billy," whistle the new engine, "let's go."
"Wait Billy," tooted Thomas, " we can't go yet, we have to wait for the Fat Controller."
"Why?" huffed Billy.
"Because he tells us what we are to do," whistled Thomas.
Billy didn't want to wait for the Fat Controller, he wanted to go.
The Fat Controller arrived.
"Billy," he boomed, "you have a very busy day."
Billy beamed.
"First, you must take empty chicken vans to the farm and bring the chickens back to the docks, then you are to deliver diesel fuel to the quarry. And lastly you have to take coal to the depot."
"Yes sir," bubble Billy happily, "Right away sir."
"Thomas, you must show Billy how to be a really useful engine," added the Fat Controller, and he left.
"Billy," Thomas steamed, "you must pull the chicken slowly and smoothly."
"I know that," sighed Billy, he pumped his pistons impatiently,
"Don't pump your pistons before you're ready to leave," whistle Thomas. "It waste coal and water."
Billy puffed and huffed.
"And first, you must take on enough coal and water for a busy day," added Thomas.
"Thomas," huff Billy, "stop telling me what to do, you are a very bossy engine!"
And Billy raced off.
"He thinks you're a bossy boiler Mehearty," laugh Salty.
Thomas didn't like being called 'bossy'. He had promised the Fat Controller he would look after Billy. So, Thomas chased after him.
Thomas was pleased to find Billy at the farm, but Billy wasn't pleased to see Thomas.
"Billy, you must take on coal and water."
"Don't tell me what to do, Thomas." Huffed Billy, "You are a very bossy engine."
And Billy steamed off.
"Silly Billy! You've forgotten the chickens!" Farmer McColl called.
"Bother Billy!" wheeshed Thomas. And he chuffed quickly off towards the quarry.
Thomas was pleased to find Billy at the quarry, but Billy wasn't pleased to see him.
"You didn't pick up the chickens." Puffed Thomas, "And you still haven't taken on coal and water."
"Stop telling me what to do Thomas!" Huffed Billy. "You are a very bossy engine!"
And Billy steamed off.
"He's forgotten our oil." Wheeshed Mavis.
Thomas was worried. And he raced off quickly for the depot.
Thomas was pleased to find Billy at the depot, but Billy wasn't pleased to see him. Billy had backed up to heavy trucks of diesel oil.
"They need diesel oil at the quarry, not the depot." Tooted Thomas, "And you still haven't taken on coal and water."
"Stop telling me what to do Thomas!" Huffed Billy, "You are a very, very bossy engine!"
Billy steamed off without the diesel oil.
Thomas was worried and he chased after Billy.
Thomas was pleased to find Billy at the coaling plant. He was backing his trucks under the hopper, but he didn't see Percy there, and he biffed him, right under the hopper. Percy was covered in coal from funnel to footplate.
"Watch out, silly Billy!" Percy peeped.
"Oh, no." Tooted Thomas, "You must be careful when you roll under the hopper, and you must take on coal and water now."
"THOMAS!" huffed Billy, "STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO, YOU ARE A VERY BOSSY ENGINE!"
Thomas was very cross, he didn't want to be called 'bossy' anymore.
"Fine!" huffed Thomas, "Do whatever you want Billy!"
This made Billy very happy, and he raced off. Suddenly, Billy stopped; he had run out of coal and water.
This made Thomas even more cross.
"See!" Thomas wheeshed, "I have told you many times to take on coal and water! Now, look what has happened!"
Thomas finally lost patience.
"You know what, Billy? I've had enough of you. I am going to tell the Fat Controller everything of what you did," Thomas huffed.
This made Billy scared.
Thomas coupled up to Billy and took him back to Brendam Docks, where the Fat Controller is waiting. He was very cross.
"BILLY!" boomed the Fat Controller, "You have caused confusion and delay! I said clearly that Thomas was to show you how to be a useful engine, but you didn't listen to him! You didn't wait for the chickens to be loaded, you forgot to deliver the diesel oil to the quarry, you bumped poor Percy to the coal hopper, causing him to get covered in coal, and you didn't take on coal and water as Thomas has told you many times."
"Sorry Sir," Billy said sadly.
"Well sorry won't fix all the damages you have caused," The Fat Controller said sternly, "I am going to send you back to your railway and tell your controller everything! I will not be having an engine that is rude, impatient and disobedient!"
The Fat Controller then turn towards Thomas.
"Thomas, in the meantime, I would like you to do Billy's jobs instead." The Fat Controller said.
"Yes sir." Thomas tooted, and he steamed off.
So, Thomas collected Farmer McColl's chickens. And took them to the docks. Then, he delivered the diesel oil to Mavis and Diesel at the quarry. And lastly, he delivered coal to the depot. Thomas was very tired, but was happy that he managed to properly get the jobs done.
Thomas then saw Billy chuffing sadly away.
"Serves him right," wheeshed Thomas, "this will teach him a lesson."
Thomas felt happy that he wouldn't have to deal with a silly engine like Billy. And he hoped that Billy will learn to be more patient, and wouldn't be a "Silly Billy" anymore.