>TAKE NEWSPAPER
You don't really want to hold a burning newspaper.
This is because the latter message is handled by BALLOON-FCN, so it only runs when you're inside the balloon. The first message probably comes from BALLOON-BURN removing the object's TAKEBIT. So it's quite possible that the bug was known, and this was a workaround. (It also clear the object's READBIT, perhaps to prevent implicit taking.)
From outside the balloon:
From inside the balloon:
This is because the latter message is handled by
BALLOON-FCN, so it only runs when you're inside the balloon. The first message probably comes fromBALLOON-BURNremoving the object'sTAKEBIT. So it's quite possible that the bug was known, and this was a workaround. (It also clear the object'sREADBIT, perhaps to prevent implicit taking.)