sub hash_maker {

  my $ref = shift;
  my $key = shift;

  return undef unless ref $ref eq 'HASH';

  #
  # If $key is empty, we're building an empty hash. Return undef.
  #
  return undef unless $key;

  #
  # This is the passed in hash, so we need to duplicate it in our new
  # data structure. We also have to be sure that we're adding if necessary.
  #
  if ( ref $key eq 'HASH' ) {
    foreach my $k ( keys %{$key} ) {
        $ref->{$k} = $key->{$k};
    }
    return $ref;
  }

  #
  # Reference was not a hashref, we don't know how to handle it.
  #
  return undef if ref $key;


  #
  # Nothing above was met, there's more to build.
  #
  $ref->{$key} = {} unless exists $ref->{$key};

  hash_maker( $ref->{$key}, @_ );

  #
  # Pass that which we hath groweth to those who groweth before us...
  #
  return $ref;

}