def space_pad(number, length):
    """
    Return a number as a string, padded with spaces to make it the given length

    :param number: the number to pad with spaces (can be int or float)
    :param length: the specified length
    :returns: the number padded with spaces as a string
    """

    number_length = len(str(number))
    spaces_to_add = length - number_length
    return (' ' * spaces_to_add) + str(number)