def to_bytes(self):
        r'''
        Create bytes from properties

        >>> message = DataPacket(nonce='XyZ', instance_id=1234,
        ...                      payload='SomeDummyPayloadData')
        >>> message.to_bytes()
        '\x88XyZ\x00\x04\xd2\x00SomeDummyPayloadData'
        '''
        # Verify that properties make sense
        self.sanitize()

        # Set the flags in the first 8 bits
        bitstream = BitArray('bool=%d, bool=%d, bool=%d, bool=%d, bool=%d'
                             % (self.nonce is not None,
                                self.lsb is not None,
                                self.echo_nonce_request,
                                (self.source_map_version is not None or
                                 self.destination_map_version is not None),
                                self.instance_id is not None))

        # Add padding
        bitstream += BitArray(3)

        # Add the 24 bit nonce or the map-versions if present
        if self.nonce is not None:
            # Nonce
            bitstream += BitArray(bytes=self.nonce)
        elif self.source_map_version is not None \
        or self.destination_map_version is not None:
            # Map versions
            bitstream += BitArray(('uint:12=%d, uint:12=%d')
                                  % (self.source_map_version,
                                     self.destination_map_version))
        else:
            # Padding
            bitstream += BitArray(24)

        # Add instance-id if present
        if self.instance_id is not None:
            bitstream += BitArray('uint:24=%d' % self.instance_id)
            lsb_bits = 8
        else:
            lsb_bits = 32

        # Add LSBs if present
        if self.lsb is not None:
            flags = map(lambda f: f and 'bool=1' or 'bool=0',
                        self.lsb[::-1])
            bitstream += BitArray(','.join(flags))
        else:
            bitstream += BitArray(lsb_bits)

        return bitstream.bytes + bytes(self.payload)
r'''
        Create bytes from properties

        >>> message = DataPacket(nonce='XyZ', instance_id=1234,
        ...                      payload='SomeDummyPayloadData')
        >>> message.to_bytes()
        '\x88XyZ\x00\x04\xd2\x00SomeDummyPayloadData'