How extract text from form element using <option>, Javascript extracts the assigned value, how do I get the text? Options

[Ann-Marie Foster]

Here is the COUNTRY input of a checkout form.

CODE

  HTML:-

Country <select  NAME="Bill Country" ID="BillCountry" ONCHANGE="UpdateCheckout()">
<option value="US">USA</option>
<option value="AF">Afghanistan</option>
<option value="AL">Albania</option>
<option value="DZ">Algeria</option>
<option value="AD">Andorra</option>
. . . . . .
</select>        

The above displays a form element where the customer can select their country.
java script: document.getElementById("BillCountry").value;
Gets the 2 character "Country Code" needed by PayPal.
But I would like to also access the TEXT of the particular country selected for printing a summary.
After they select a country the full text shows on the form element but HOW DO I EXTRACT THE TEXT?