Farnborough, England (CNN) – You know you’re dealing with a busy executive when you have to interview them on their toilet break.

I grabbed a brief chat with Virgin boss Richard Branson on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Air Show, but only after he first dragged me to the bathroom.

“Follow me,” said Branson, after I approached him. With that he was striding urgently across the auditorium where he had just announced a new satellite launching venture for his Virgin Galactic space company.

Seconds later, we were outside the toilets. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said, diving inside.

A few awkward minutes later, Branson was back, looking somewhat relieved, if tired from a schedule that saw him fly in from Mexico only hours before attending the air show.

“Sorry… I’m just exhausted,” he confessed, stumbling on his first answer. Then he recovered his composure to outline dreams for his fledgling space exploration company that include putting a hotel into orbit.

Interview over, Branson declined the customary handshake, instead offering his little finger to shake by way of apology. “I’ve got a bit of a cold,” he said. “You don’t want to catch it.”

So at least he spared me a second indignity.