At the beginning of Chapter 6, Nick gives us the background on Gatsby. Nick says that after Gatsby met and worked for Dan Cody for five years, "He was left with his singularly appropriate education; the vague contour of Jay Gatsby had filled out to the substantiality of a man."
In the five years that Gatsby worked for Cody, "he [Gatsby] was in turn steward, mate, skipper, secretary, and even jailor, for Dan Cody sober knew what lavish doings Dan Cody drunk might soon be about, and he provided for such contingencies by reposing more and more trust in Gatsby." Gatsby learned quickly what alcohol could do to a man, which is why the reader never sees him drinking, even when his parties are overflowing with liquor. He also learned what it meant to be rich, traveling around "the Continent" three times. Basically, Gatsby learned how to be Jay Gatsby instead of James Gatz, the young man from Minnesota farmers.
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