code: def send_im(self, user, text):
          
          if isinstance(user, SlackUser):
              user = user.id
              channelid = self._find_im_channel(user)
          else:
              channelid = user.id
          self.send_message(channelid, text)
docs: Sends a message to a user as an IM
  
          * user - The user to send to.  This can be a SlackUser object, a user id, or the username (without the @)
          * text - String to send