Tom has to write a history essay and asks Nobody to tell him what life was like in the 1800's . Nobody tells him about Jack Treadful, the evil Fagin-like man who used to send the children out to steal for him. Nobody gets him from the police station he haunts, but once at the house, he steals Peter's prize snuff box. Tom can't tell his parents about the ghosts, so he gets Nobody to threaten him. They will tell Peter where Jack keeps his stolen treasures in the basement if he does not return the box.