midnight
The names of ledgers and balance-books sounded pleasant to him , for he was daily learning considerable about them . Their puzzles were solving and their mysteries dissolving before his constant gaze . He felt like an engineer lately on the job , or a new chauffeur , only more mighty . His sense of greatness waned , though , toward midnight on balance day . The savings ledger was out an ugly amount . Bill was also in straits . `` It 's a wonder to me , '' he growled , as the two plodded along alone in the semi-darkness , `` that bankclerks do n't go nutty . ''