2. THE BILLET SWITCH
This sleight is the key to many of the most subtle feats of pretended mind reading. The size of the slip of paper used is most important; when folded, it should be of such size that it can be held securely between the folds at the base and at the top joint of the middle finger by bending that finger slightly (Fig. 3).
Take a piece of paper about two and one-half by three and one-half inches, fold it in half the long way, then in half the opposite way and again in half the same way. The resulting packet should be a little narrower than your middle finger and just the right length to fit into the required position. If this size is not just right, experiment with different-sized papers until the right one is found. Generally speaking, the little writing pads obtainable at the five and ten cent stores will be found just right; if not, have a printer cut your slips and clip them together.
The switch is made thus: Place a folded slip in the finger palm position and take a second slip between the tips of the thumb and second finger of the same hand. Pull this second slip back with the thumb until it overlaps the first (Fig. 4); then with the tip of the second finger push up the first slip and continue the action of the thumb and finger until the two slips have changed places, the first slip now being in view at the tips of the thumb and second finger and the second one finger palmed. The sleight is not a difficult one, but it must be done so smoothly that when the hand is in motion the change is imperceptible. It must be done with either hand with equal facility.
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