The officer there looked at the red marks, asked me a few questions, then donned his rubber gloves and began a very thorough search of my bags.  Of course once he opened the bags the officer lightened up quite a bit as we joked and chatted about my unusual luggage.  A straight jacket, a blindfold, two whoopee cushions, some magic wands, a rubber chicken, and of course lots and lots of balloons.  Then it happened.

I had looked away for just a moment, and when I looked back he was holding my balloon pump.  He inspected it a bit and then began to unscrew the bottom to look inside.  Suddenly I found myself in one of those surreal, slow motion action movie moments as I began to reach for the pump and yelled, “NOOOOoooooooo!”

The officer froze, staring at me in horror.  I then very calmly explained that the pump he was holding was not really a balloon pump.  It was actually one of those gag peanut cans with the spring loaded fake snakes that fly out when you open it, which I had disguised as a balloon pump to use in my shows.  He looked at me, completely serious for the first time since he opened my bag, and said, “Thank you.  That probably would have got one of us shot”.

http://BusterBalloon.com