In the first tale (VIII, 3), the three painters hunt for heliotropes, and Calandrino believes that by finding one he is rendered invisible.
Bruno and Buffalmacco, his friends and fellow painters, pretend they don't see him and kick rocks at him all the way back to Florence, where he arrives bruised.
According to common belief at the time, a person who is lying wouldn't be able to swallow the prepared bread and cheese when under examination.
Finally, tale IX, 5 is a story in which Boccaccio uses the Calandrino character to ridicule the folk magic of his time period.
To gain a woman's affections, Calandrino casts a spell and prepares a potion from a scroll supplied by Bruno.