Roald Dahl uses plenty of foreshadowing in his story "The Landlady," and this gives readers plenty of clues that Billy Weaver just might experience a horrible fate. Let's look at some examples.

Billy has every intention of staying at the Bell and Dragon, but as he walks along, his eye is caught by a cozy looking bed and breakfast. The front room is pleasant, and there is a little dachshund sleeping by the fire. Billy decides that he will have a look at the Bell and Dragon before he makes up his mind, but he cannot quite pull himself away from the bed and breakfast. Something is holding him, forcing him to stay. He gives in and rings the bell. Here, we have our first ominous hint that all is not well.

Our second hint comes when the landlady opens the door right away. She must have been standing right there watching Billy the whole time. This, too, is quite strange. Yet Billy goes inside. Billy also should also get a clue when he discovers there are no other guests, but the price is very low (another hint of possible trouble), so he decides to stay. Also, the landlady says that he is "just exactly right" as she looks him up and down.

Later in the story, Billy looks at the guest book and finds two other names. He recognizes them from somewhere, but he can't quite place where. Further, the last entry dates back over two years. Billy really should be running the other direction by now.

As the story draws to an end, Billy discovers that the parrot and the little dachshund are no longer alive but rather are stuffed, stuffed by the landlady herself. She does that to all her little pets, she says. Strangely, Billy's tea tastes like bitter almonds. We readers get the feeling that poor Billy won't be alive much longer.