NOVELTY - Providing (M1) a humidified gas stream (112) to a point of usage comprises: providing a stream (102) of dry gas; directing at least a portion of the dry humidification device (110); humidifying at least a portion of the dry gas stream to provide a humidified gas stream having an amount of moisture in excess of a predetermined amount; directing the humidified gas stream to a cooling device (120); cooling the humidified gas to a predetermined temperature; and directing the cooled humidified gas to the point of usage.    USE - The method is useful for providing a humidified gas stream to a point of usage or to a continuous furnace (all claimed), where the humidified gas is useful in a chemical, thermal, metallurgical, electronics, laser processing, fuel cells, and food processing industries to enhance chemical reactions, weld and spray metallic and ceramic materials by thermal and plasma techniques, braze and sinter metallic components, refine ferrous and nonferrous metals and metal alloys, enhance combustion, provide desired physical and mechanical properties to metals and metal alloys, solder electronic components, deposit oxides of various elements by chemical vapor and physical vapor deposition techniques, control composition of gases used in lasers, manipulate composition of gases used in fuel cells, enhance shelf life of perishable food items such as vegetables and fruits, package food stuffs, and to control the environment and adjust comfort level for humans such as by producing and supplying synthetic breathable atmospheres and medicinal gases.    ADVANTAGE - The method utilizes system: for humidifying a gas stream with a precise, consistent, and reliable amount of moisture; that operates at ambient pressure and/or temperature; that utilizes cost-effective and/or commercially available humidification and cooling devices; that provides an optimum level of humidification, has the ability to hold a dew point constant over a wide range of ambient temperatures, and does no require heating in the humidifier or gas line; which does not require incremental atmosphere flows or change the flow balance within a furnace; and that is easily employed in conjunction with existing gas supply piping to a furnace or other point of usage.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) a method (M2) for providing a humidified gas stream to a point of usage comprising: providing a main stream of dry gas; directing a slip stream from the main stream of dry gas to a humidification device; humidifying the slip stream of dry gas to provide a humidified gas stream having an amount of moisture in excess of a predetermined amount; directing the humidified gas stream to a cooling device; cooling the humidified gas to a predetermined cooling temperature; combining the cooled humidified gas with the main stream of dry gas to form a mixed gas stream; and directing the mixed gas stream to the point of usage;    (2) a method for providing a humidified gas stream to a continuous furnace, comprising: providing a main stream of dry gas comprising nitrogen and having a flow rate of 1600-2400 standard cubic feet per hour (scfh); directing a slip stream having a flow rate of 12-20 scfh from the main stream of dry gas to a humidification device comprising a water bath; humidifying the slip stream of dry gas by passing the dry gas through the water bath to provide a humidified gas stream having an amount of water vapor in excess of the amount of water vapor required to maintain the dew point in the continuous furnace at -40 degrees C; directing the humidified gas stream to a cooling device; cooling the humidified gas to a temperature of 7-13 degrees C; combining the cooled humidified gas with the main stream of dry gas to form a mixed gas stream; and directing the mixed gas stream to the continuous furnace; and    (3) a system (100) for providing a humidified gas stream to a point of usage comprising: a dry gas stream; a humidification device configured to receive at least a portion of the dry gas stream to humidify at least a portion of the dry gas stream to form the humidified gas stream; and a cooling device configured to receive the humidified gas stream to cool the humidified gas stream to a predetermined temperature to form the cooled humidified gas stream.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic diagram of a system in which a gas stream is humidified.    System (100)    Dry gas stream (102)    Humidification device (110)    Humidified gas stream (112)    Cooling device (120)