ures ▁the ▁members ▁at ▁his ▁club ▁that ▁it ▁is ▁now ▁possible ▁to ▁travel ▁the ▁world ▁in ▁ 8 0 ▁days ▁or ▁less ; ▁they ▁disag ree ▁and ▁so ▁he ▁challeng es ▁himself ▁to ▁set ▁off ▁and ▁prove ▁them ▁wrong . ▁ ▁He ▁bet s ▁a ▁total ▁of ▁£ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁that ▁he ▁will ▁sail ▁away , ▁tour ▁the ▁world , ▁and ▁return ▁to ▁that ▁very ▁spot ▁in ▁eight y ▁days ▁or ▁less . ▁ ▁After ▁accepting ▁his ▁w ager , ▁the ▁club ▁members ▁bid ▁him ▁fare well ▁and ▁wish ▁him ▁luck ▁on ▁his ▁long ▁voyage ▁across ▁the ▁world . ▁ ▁P asse part out ▁takes ▁an ▁immediate ▁lik ing ▁for ▁his ▁new ▁determined ▁master , ▁but ▁even ▁so , ▁the ▁young ▁v alet ▁isn ' t ▁too ▁enthus i astic ▁about ▁sail ing ▁away ▁from ▁London ▁ab o ard ▁a ▁hot ▁air ▁bal lo on . ▁ ▁One ▁day ▁before ▁their ▁departure , ▁the ▁Bank ▁of ▁England ▁had ▁been ▁assault ed ▁and ▁ro bb ed ▁by ▁a ▁man ▁whose ▁physical ▁appearance ▁res emble d ▁that ▁of ▁Mr . ▁Ph ile as ▁F og g . ▁ ▁A ▁detect ive ▁named ▁Fix ▁investig ates ▁the ▁crime ▁and ▁decl ares ▁Ph ile as ▁F og g ▁guilty ▁of ▁bank ▁rob ber y , ▁hiding ▁behind ▁the ▁identity ▁of ▁a ▁noble ▁gentleman . ▁ ▁Mr . ▁F og g ▁and ▁P asse part out ▁fly ▁on ▁the ▁bal lo on ▁over ▁France , ▁Italy ▁and ▁the ▁Swiss ▁Al ps . ▁