UNITED STATES

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           Washington, DC  20549


                                 FORM 8-K

                              CURRENT REPORT


                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
                    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


             Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                               April 2, 2004


                               AIRGAS, INC.
          ______________________________________________________
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




   Delaware                   1-9344                     56-0732648
_______________        _______________________          ________________
(State or other        (Commission File Number)         (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                         Identification No.)
incorporation)




                 259 North Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
                          Radnor, PA  19087-5283
                 _________________________________________
                 (Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253
                                                    ______________



 Item 5.  Other Events
          ____________

   On April 2, 2004, Airgas, Inc. announced that it has signed a
definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire most of the U.S. packaged
gas business of the BOC Group, Inc. (NYSE: BOX) in a transaction valued
up to $200 million.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         ___________________________________________________________________

(a)  None

(b)  None

(c)  Exhibits.

       99.1 - Press Release dated April 2, 2004




                                Signatures
                                __________

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                     AIRGAS, INC.
                                     ------------
                                     (Registrant)


                                     BY:      /s/ Robert M. McLaughlin
                                              ---------------------------
                                              Robert M. McLaughlin
                                              Vice President & Controller







DATED:     April 6, 2004