accessing function() values in custom page

[Oreamnos]

i have a custom page with some functions that return values. Example:

PHP Code:

function test() {

$print_this = "hello!";
return $print_this;

} 


but if i put $print_this in my template it doesn't show anything. if i just have $print_this = "hello!"; outside of the function, and $print_this in my teemplate, it works.

how do i handle data that is produced in a function in my templates?

eric