Shady,

Flash paper is always sent wet because it is very flammable. You are supposed to let it dry out first, usually 24 hrs. is plenty.
I did the same thing when I got mine. After it dried out it was great!!

Hypno-heat is all but extinct here in England due to the ingredients being impossible to buy now (mercury)

If anyone knows any different, let me know because I am/was an avid user.

And as for flash paper, it comes damp for transit purposes and can be dried out quite safely on a radiator. You can even use a hairdryer on a low heat setting from a safe distance. But be careful of the stuff.

I heard of somebody performing a levitating rose routine with flashpaper and an ITR, the trick worked well up to the point where the thread burned through and resulted in an insurance claim for a new carpet.