Needless are none of the acts of the Wizard, so when he counsels Dwarf-king-in-exile Thorin Oakenshield to enlist the services of Mister Bilbo Baggins as a burglar in his quest to reclaim his birthright from the dragon Smaug, it is done with a keen insight into the sheltered Hobbit's qualities and an understanding of how crucial these will be to their success. The Hobbit impresses Thorin Oakenshield little upon their first meeting, but, despite his misgivings, the Dwarf knows enough of Gandalf to credit him with good reasoning, and indeed it will not be long before Bilbo Baggins' mettle is tested and the Wizard's wisdom proven.