"Bill, are you sure this is the right address?" Molly whispered, peering through the bushes at the brightly decorated house. "Of course, I'm sure," Bill replied, adjusting his ski mask. "The Johnsons always throw the biggest birthday bash in town. Look at all those balloons. It's like a beacon for presents." Molly squinted. "I don't know, Bill. This feels... wrong. I mean, it's a kid's party." "Wrong? Molly, we're thieves. Everything we do is wrong. Besides, think of the loot. All those shiny new toys, gadgets, and who knows what else. It's a goldmine." "Yeah, but what if we get caught? I don't want to end up in jail because of a Barbie Dreamhouse." "Relax. We won't get caught. I've got a foolproof plan. We blend in, act like we're part of the entertainment. No one will suspect a thing." "Entertainment? Bill, we don't even have costumes." "That's where you're wrong. Ta-da!" Bill pulled out two clown wigs and a bag of face paint from his backpack. Molly stared at him, incredulous. "Clowns? Really? You know I'm terrified of clowns." "Exactly. No one will suspect a terrified clown. It's genius." "Bill, this is the worst idea you've ever had." "Trust me, Molly. Just put on the wig and follow my lead. We'll be in and out before anyone notices." Molly sighed, reluctantly taking the wig. "Fine. But if this goes south, I'm blaming you." "Deal. Now, let's get this show on the road." They crept around to the back of the house, slipping in through the open gate. The backyard was a chaotic sea of children, parents, and colorful decorations. A bouncy castle loomed in one corner, and a table piled high with presents sat in the center. "Okay, Molly. Remember, big smiles, lots of laughs. We're here to entertain." Molly forced a grin. "Right. Big smiles. Got it." They approached the table, trying to look as inconspicuous as two clowns could. Bill started juggling some plastic balls he found lying around, while Molly attempted to make balloon animals, her hands shaking. "Hey, you two!" a woman called out, walking over. "Are you the clowns we hired?" Bill nodded enthusiastically. "That's us! Bubbles and Squeaky, at your service." The woman looked relieved. "Thank goodness. The kids have been asking for you. Can you start with some tricks?" "Absolutely," Bill said, tossing a ball high into the air and catching it behind his back. "Watch this!" Molly fumbled with a balloon, trying to twist it into something recognizable. "Uh, here you go, kid. It's a... snake." The child looked at the limp balloon and frowned. "That's not a snake." "Use your imagination," Molly muttered, handing it over. Bill leaned in, whispering to Molly. "Distract them while I grab the presents." "How am I supposed to do that?" she hissed back. "Just... do a dance or something." Molly sighed, then started doing an awkward jig, waving her arms around. The kids giggled, and the parents clapped politely. Bill took the opportunity to start stuffing presents into a large sack he had hidden under his costume. He worked quickly, glancing around to make sure no one was watching too closely. "Almost done," he whispered to Molly. "Good, because I can't keep this up much longer," she replied through gritted teeth. Just as Bill was tying up the sack, a little boy pointed at him. "Hey, what are you doing with the presents?" Bill froze. "Uh, just... rearranging them. For the big finale." The boy looked skeptical. "I want to see the finale now." "Me too!" another child chimed in. Bill forced a smile. "Of course! Just give us a minute to set up." Molly grabbed Bill's arm. "We need to get out of here. Now." "Agreed," Bill said, hoisting the sack over his shoulder. "Time for the grand exit!" They bolted for the gate, kids and parents shouting behind them. As they sprinted down the street, Molly couldn't help but laugh. "Bill, that was insane!" "Insane, but successful," Bill panted, grinning. "Happy birthday to us."