Humbug:  Could you show us the biggest number there is ? That will give him something to figure out .
The MathemaGician: Very well , Sir Humbug . What 's the biggest number you can think of ?
Humbug: 9,999,999,000,999 and ... nine tenths !
The MathemaGician: Very good . Now add one to it .
Humbug: Add _ one _ ?
The MathemaGician: Now , add one to that . Add one again . Add one again . Add one again . Add one again .
Milo: But he 'd never be able to stop that way .
The MathemaGician: Never , for the number you hope for is always at least one higher than the one you had , and that 's so large that if you started saying it yesterday , you would n't finish until tomorrow .