need help using char* return from winamp API

[nandor]

ret = SendMessageLong(hWndWinamp, WM_USER, index, IPC_GETPLAYLISTFILE)

where:

WM_USER = &H400,
index = index of the desired song in the current playlist,
IPC_GETPLAYLISTFILE = 211.

Equivalent C declaration is:

char *name = SendMessage(hwnd_winamp, WM_USER, index, IPC_GETPLAYLISTFILE);

Which returns a char* - how do I use this in VB?