Playing Around EAndre Farrar, Arthur Ganson and Rustam Booz have their hands on a winner.

Why didn't I think of that? thought Arthur Ganson, asculptor and inventor, when he saw someone holding what looked likea fantastic toy. As he got closer, however, that toy turned out tobe just a tube-shaped balloon.

But that balloon became the inspiration behind Ganson'sbrainstorm: Toobers & Zots, a toy that's been called the"Legos of the '90s." The 2- to 4- foot foam rubbertube (Toobers) cam be bent into any shape; the die-cut foam shapes(Zots) connect and adorn the Toobers to make various objects.

Ganson, 40, and this two partners, Rustam Booz and AndrewFarrar, both 37, distribute their $5.99 to $29.95 Toobers &Zots through the specialty toy market. "We wanted to make toysthat foster creativity and stimulate little people'sminds," says Booz.