HandEFood and Sveltje both have the same idea (which is what I thought too). It is on the right track, although it is not the answer that was given when I saw the puzzle.
So, strictly speaking the answer to Sveltje's questions are no and no.
And the answer to whether he blew them out with a gun is not relevant (perhaps he blew them out with a bicycle pump... a bit slow though... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )
