gistfile1.txt

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {

        // The message you want to send accross the network
        var outboundMessage = new ChatMessage { Body = "Hello" };

        // Serialize the outbound message
        byte[] outboundMessageData;
        using (var stream = new MemoryStream())
        {
            var formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
            formatter.Serialize(stream, outboundMessage);
            outboundMessageData = stream.ToArray();
        }

        // Imagine you issue a network read and hydrate outboundMessageData

        // Deserialize the message
        object inboundMessage;
        using (var stream = new MemoryStream(outboundMessageData))
        {
            var formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
            inboundMessage = formatter.Deserialize(stream);
        }

        // Branch accordingly..
        if (inboundMessage.GetType() == typeof(ChatMessage))
        {
            var chatMessage = (ChatMessage) inboundMessage;
            Console.WriteLine(chatMessage.Body);
        }

    }
}

[Serializable]
public class ChatMessage
{
    public string Body { get; set; }
}