What was the specific sequence of events that caused Balaram Dev to not recognize Sai Baba as the Sanyasi?

Balaram Dev's confusion stemmed from a prior encounter with the Sanyasi. As he later realized and lamented in Chapter 40, this Sanyasi had visited him before he even invited Baba to the Udyapan. That first visit was for the purpose of collecting funds for cow protection. Because of this, when the same Sanyasi appeared for the meal, Dev's mind associated him with the fundraising and not with Sai Baba's promise. Dev believed that if the Sanyasi's visit had occurred only after the invitation was extended to Baba, his vision would not have been so confused and he might have made the connection.