A childhood belief about aliens

When I was little my mother used to tell me to shut my eyes so "the Sandman" could put sand in them, when she was putting me to bed, I used to be terrified because to me the Sandman was what we nowadays call a "grey" or "tan" alien, and he didn't put sand in my eyes, he stuck a glass rod up my nose for some reason. This image stayed with me for years and years, and even now in my late 30's if I hear someone mention the Sandman it gives me the heebeegeebees