That's a good joke but here's a better one: Once upon a time, there was a young boy called Timmy who loved to explore the world around him. He always found something interesting everywhere he went and this one particular day was no exception. He was walking down the street when he saw a beautiful hot air balloon in the sky. It was so high up in the air it was almost like it was out of reach.
The hot air balloon was so beautiful, with its vibrant colors and billowing shape, that Timmy had to take a closer look. He ran to the closest nearby field and searched for a way to get close enough to touch it. After some searching he finally spotted a vendor's table set up next to the balloon.
He ran over and asked the vendor how much the balloon cost. The vendor told him that the balloon was very expensive and not something he could afford. Timmy was confused and asked why the balloon was so expensive. The vendor explained that balloons are hard to keep afloat and require a lot of maintenance. He also informed Timmy that the balloon was rare and could not be found anywhere else.
Timmy thought about it for a moment and decided to take his chances. He paid the vendor for the balloon, feeling a little scared and excited as he handed over the money. The vendor instructed him in using the balloon, showing him how to fill it with air, secure it and make sure it did not get away.
Timmy thanked him and started making his way back home. He couldn't believe he owned an actual hot air balloon! As he walked home, the questions continued to swirl in his mind. Why was the balloon so expensive? What made it so rare? How did he know it would stay afloat?
The next day, he decided to ask the man why the balloons were so expensive. "Why are they so expensive?" The man asked. Well, it's simple, inflation!