GP used indenting (which wraps text in (the equivalent of a) <pre>-tag -- intended for code listings and such:

  I'm an asterix * and I'm ok
  [ed: ***proof-no-space*required**]

However, a single asterix * with spaces on both sides is also "escaped": I * blink * all day and sleep all night?

So: " * #999# * " should work.