The origin story of Captain Marvel (the original one) was wish fulfillment fantasy in its purest form. (Well, aside from the blasphemous pagan stuff, and mixing Biblical King Solomon in with all that.) A young orphan is wandering the streets of the big city when a mysterious figure approaches him from the darkness and entices the boy to come with him. Clearly something wonderful awaits!
Or maybe not.
Our Billy is more world-wise than that one, and he understands stranger-danger. But how can he say “no” to an invitation such as this?