[cheerful and upbeat- not the kind of voice he expected, that's for sure! it puts him a bit more at ease, but curiosity levels remain pretty much about the same.]

Why do I-

[oh shoot, there needs to be a reason, right?!]

That's, that's because you're [sitting on the roof of a house looking suspect as heck is definitely not the thing to say] wearing a gas mask. Is there a gas leak in the house? It could be dangerous!