I think he was a tinker.

Just before he left he said,

Nobody ever goes in, and nobody ever comes out.

And right he was, Charlie.

Not since the tragic day that Willy Wonka locked it.

Why'd he lock it?

Because all the other chocolate makers in the world were sending in spies,

dressed as workers, to steal Mr. Wonka's secret recipes.

Especially Slugworth... Oh, that Slugworth, he was the worst!

Finally Mr. Wonka shouted I shall be ruined!

He locked the gates and vanished completely.

And then suddenly, about three years later,

the most amazing thing happened.

And more delicious candies were coming out than ever before.

But the gates stayed locked so that no one,

not even Mr. Slugworth, could steal them.

Thousands must be helping him.

But who?

Who are they?

That is the biggest mystery of them all.