Keep gift/blessing he gives you.
If you get a bad card (excluding ill blessings)
you can go right back down the stairs to 8 and the bad blessing is "over". After
dealing with Mage either way, go back down stairs to 8. Back down in level 8,
guess what! ANOTHER CHEST! Repeat steps 1 and 2 to your hearts content! LOAD UP!
Sometimes it skips (no chest)or no Mage,

Fast Gather Weapons/Blessings
In level 7, go down the stairs to level 8. There's usually a treasure chest.
Decode its trap and open it. Get item. "NOW" go right back up the stairs TO 7.
Walk around 2 steps in every direction on the floor. Chances are 9 out of 10
times, you will run into the Mage that lets you pick a card for a gamble on a
gift.