Kids may recognize the two ciphers in the questionnaire if they have done other Mail Order Mysteries, but it is not necessary to solve them. Here are links to the answer keys for “pigpen cipher” and “Templar cipher” if you want to solve them now, but if you are interested in doing other mysteries in the future you may want to leave them unanswered.

The cipher at the bottom of the page is a substitution cipher, and the key is directly above it.

The answer to the question is underlined in the spy brochure. 

The pigpen cipher says: I LOVE PIRATE TREASURE

The Templar cipher says: THE TROLL LOVES BOOKS

The substitution cipher says: SOMEWHERE IN THIS PACKAGE IS A THREE DIGIT CODE, FIND IT

The 3 digit code: 307

The message says that the operation has been compromised and that the director will contact you as soon as he can. 

Trouble with the cipher disk? If you have assembled the cipher disk, located the key letter and followed the instructions but your message does not make sense, you may be working the wheel in the wrong direction. Cipher disks can be used in two ways: to create messages and to decipher messages. For one way you work from the inside to the outside of the disk. For the other you work from the outside to the inside. When you are deciphering a message you must work from the inside out.

First locate the key letter A on the outside of the circle and match it up with the key letter on the inside circle. Now locate the letters of the message on the inside of the disk and write down the corresponding letters on the outside of the disk. If you work the other way around it won't work.

Trouble locating the three digit code? At the end of the spy director’s letter he says to read the spy handbook. You’re going to need it.

Trouble entering the code? If you are sure you have the correct code but can’t access the website, make sure you are entering the correct URL. Each code has a unique URL. The names for the first two missions are similar and it is easy to get them mixed up. The URL for the first installment is "shoeacademy.org/footlocker" and the URL for the second installment is "shoeacademy.org/footloose".

The puzzles in the handbook On page 16 - 18 there are instructions for deciphering a message with a keyword. There is an example of a keyword on page 5. If you use that keyword to solve the cipher on page 18 a message is revealed.

The key letter for the cipher disk is “B”.

The message at the bottom of the director’s letter translates to:

YOU MUST FIND HIGHTOP BEFORE SHE FINDS SARCASMO

IF THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER THE WC IS LOST

THE CODE NUMBER IS FUN SHOE DOOR

The answer to “Fun Shoe Door” can be found on page 35 of the spy handbook. The code is 124.

When you call in or enter the three digit code (124) you get a message saying that there may be a mole in the organization and that if you locate the missing agent you must proceed with caution.

The ciphers in the handbook reveal important information. The example asks “WHERE IS HIGHTOP?” The example of the rail fence cipher says “SCRABBLE TOURNAMENT” and if you use the keyword on page 5 (Candy) to solve the cipher on page 18 it says “SARCASMO WILL BE THERE”.

The Scrabble tiles tell you exactly where to look to find a hidden clue. To read the clue you may need the magnifying glass that came in the second installment.

The cipher on the back of the Scrabble ticket is called “Dancing Man”. The key can be found on page 19 in the spy handbook that you received in the previous installment. 

The dancing man cipher says: SHOE NOT SAFE GO ALONE

The scrabble tiles spell “Under Stamp”.

If you peel back the postage stamp you will find a “microdot” - a teeny tiny message from the missing agent.

There are two ciphers in this puzzle. The first part of the cipher needs a key letter and the cipher disk to solve. The keyword is underlined somewhere in the letter. This message tells you how to find the three digit code for this installment.

The second part of the message is a rail fence cipher. The instructions can be found in the spy handbook on page 20.

Key letter is “C”. The first part of the message says: WE NEED BACKUP. I CAN’T MAKE THE CALL. THIS PLACE IS FULL OF COMPUTER HACKERS AND THE PHONES ARE ALL BUGGED. SPY HOTLINE CODE IS HIGHTOP’S TICKET NUMBER MINUS ADMISSION PRICE.

The code is 921. When you call in or enter the 3 digit code the message says that you have activated the emergency help response unit, and that we will send help immediately.

The rail fence cipher says: DID YOU LOOK BEHIND THE POSTAGE STAMP

Instructions for solving the dancing man cipher are on page 19 of the spy handbook. The message tells you where to find your keyword.

Instructions for solving a cipher with a keyword are at the end of the night watchman’s letter. 

The dancing man cipher says: KEYWORD IN HANDBOOK PAGE ELEVEN LINE TWO WORD SIX.

The word “COMPUTERS” is the keyword for the night watchman’s cipher: THE MOLE IS AGENT BOOT. HIS PLAN IS TO STEAL THE WC FROM (THE MISSING AGENT) AND SELL IT TO SOCK. I HAD TO STOP BOOT. I PUT THAT SCRABBLE TICKET UNDER HIGHTOP’S DOOR. I WROTE SHOE NOT SAFE SO SHE WOULD GO ALONE AND NOT TELL ANYONE, NOT EVEN BOOT.

This cipher can be solved without a key or code if you use the hints on page 22 of the spy handbook. Or you can call the spy hotline or go to the website to get a keyword.

You must answer 3 questions to find three numbers:

   The first number can be found by looking at the mission details from installment #5.

   The second number can be found by checking the scrabble tiles in installment #3.

   The third number can be found on page 23 of the spy handbook. 

The code is 536.

The keyword is “SOMETHING” and the message says:

I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO THIS!

ENTER THE THREE DIGIT CODE IN THIS ORDER:

-HOW MANY PHASES IN SOCK’S EVIL PLAN (ANSWER: 5)

-WHAT NUMBER OF POINTS IS THE LETTER P WORTH ON A SCRABBLE TILE (ANSWER: 3)

-THERE IS AN INVISIBLE NUMBER HIDDEN IN THE SHOE GUIDE FOR SPIES. WHAT IS IT? (ANSWER: 6)