Just to follow up on my original post, my friend did it himself, with some help from my GF and her friend, who went to Lao with him for the afternoon to show him around. I had a nice afternoon alone in Nong Kai, but that's another story.
No problems except long lines at the Lao border and at the Thai consulate. He got his 60-day visa and is now happily back in Pattaya.
We did see some Visa agents offices near the border (on the left as you head to the border). I guess they provide the service he was looking for, but we didn't stop in to talk to them.
He was aware of a service out of BKK who could've taken care of the whole thing for him (i think the same service BM Pompui mentioned), but he didn't use them because that would have prevented him from visiting Udon, as they fly you from BKK to Vientiane and back.
Anyway, thanks for all the responses.
