cpp DLL returns garbage to VB

[dsheller]

#include <windows.h>
#include <string>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;

char * __stdcall enumerateFiles ( char * startPath, char * searchPattern) {
    
    string directoryName;
    string fileName ;
    string temporary;
    string returnValue;

    vector<string>    directoryNames;

    int numberDirectories = 0;
    int cont = 0;

    HANDLE hFind;
    WIN32_FIND_DATA wfd;
    cont = 1;

    temporary = startPath;
    temporary += "*";

    hFind = FindFirstFile(temporary.c_str(), &wfd);

    if (hFind != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
        while ( cont ) {
            directoryName = wfd.cFileName;
            
            if ( (directoryName != ".") && ( directoryName != "..") ) {
                temporary = startPath;
                temporary += directoryName;

                if ( GetFileAttributes(temporary.c_str()) && FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY ) {
                    directoryNames.push_back (directoryName);
                    numberDirectories++;
                }
            }
            cont = FindNextFile(hFind, &wfd);
        }
        cont = FindClose(hFind);
    }

    temporary = startPath;
    temporary += searchPattern;

    hFind = FindFirstFile(temporary.c_str(), &wfd);
    cont = 1;

    if ( hFind != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE ) {
        while ( cont ) {
            fileName = wfd.cFileName;
            if ( (fileName != ".") && (fileName != "..") ) {
                temporary = startPath;
                temporary += fileName;
                returnValue = returnValue + temporary + ';';

            }
            cont = FindNextFile(hFind, &wfd);
        }
        cont = FindClose(hFind);
    }

    if (numberDirectories > 0) { 
        for ( int i = 0; i < numberDirectories; i++ ) {
            temporary = startPath;
            temporary = temporary + directoryNames[i] + "\\";
            
            enumerateFiles( (CHAR * )temporary.c_str(), searchPattern);
        }
    }

    return (CHAR *)returnValue.c_str();
} 

Alot to look at but it works, anyway, this works fine when I use cout to display the data as it comes in, but when it comes to telling VB whats up it returns mostly those Y's with the accent over it. I think it has something to do with the fact I am using string class, but I don't know, maybe someone else has some more insight as to what im doing wrong.