"Messenger No. 48" by James Otis is a children's adventure novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows Jethro "Jet" Lewis, a young boy who becomes a district messenger in New York City as he navigates the challenges of his job and encounters dangerous criminals. The opening of the book introduces Jet as he starts his new job at the messenger station, where he meets the manager and other boys working there. Jet is determined to make a living despite his difficult circumstances, with the loss of his parents weighing heavily on him. He quickly becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious and perilous events, including a suspicious delivery that leads him to a run-in with police and potential kidnappers. His eagerness to prove himself and make money sets the stage for a thrilling adventure filled with peril and intrigue. (This is an automatically generated summary.)