Check
http://www.uni-karlsruhe.de/~Oliver.Kreylos/Starglider.html
and download the "Graphics Files Library".
It includes support for GIF
files, and I think it also handles BMP files. And my headers should
include the BMPFILEHEADER structure.
Check out my site for some real-life
experience with bitmap loading. I've written about three documents so
far, and I hope to finish the process
tonight!