$.fn.wait = function(time, type) {
    time = time || 1000;
    type = type || "fx";
    return this.queue(type, function() {
        var self = this;
        setTimeout(function() {
            $(self).dequeue();
        }, time);
    });
};

$(document).ready(function () {
    if($("#flash_notice").text() != "" ){
        $("#flash_notice").fadeIn("slow").wait(4000).fadeOut("slow");
    }
});