Looking up at the chimney, Nick saw no smoke. "There's no fire." he pondered "Maybe it's big enough to climb down?". His body was slightly scrawny, and he was sure he could fit.
He climbed up onto the thatched roof and reached the top of the chimney. Looking down he saw a huge fireplace, thankfully unlit.
"Here goes" he said as he sucked in his gut and climbed feet first down the chimney. It was hot (even with the fire out) and sooty and a very tight fit but with a bit of wriggling he gradually made his descent. A few centuries later and Nick could have been a climbing boy
But just above the hearth he got stuck due to a large protuding stone. Hearing footsteps coming, he pulled his feet up in case the old woman saw his toes dangling down. "Now what?" he muttered under his breath as his heartbeat echoed through the flue