How did Sai Baba get his name, and who were his earliest devotees in Shirdi?

According to the narrative in Chapter 0, Sai Baba received his name upon his arrival in Shirdi. When he entered the Khandoba temple wearing a kafni and cap, a resident goldsmith named Mhalasapati greeted him with the words "Aavo Sai Baba," which means "Come, Sai Baba." Maharaj adopted this name for the rest of his life. Mhalasapati, along with his companions Kashiram Shimpi and Appa Jagle, were among Maharaj's earliest devotees. These three men had a practice of serving and providing hospitality to the various saints and fakirs who visited the busy village of Shirdi, and they became total devotees of Maharaj.