No joke, I just got to the part in the Andy Serkis narrated audiobook where Gandalf returns to toss the ring into the fire(place).
Bilbo even comes out to announce that the dragon means supper is being served and the 144 people that get to sit inside the big tent should come on in.
He chose it because if you add his 111 years to Frodo's 33, you get 144 or "one gross dozen" although to refer to the gathered hobits as a "gross" would be rude indeed! (more book references for those who haven't read them)