x.js

var inOrder = require("in-order")
    , slice = Array.prototype.slice

// un-tested, might work
module.exports = serial

function serial(operations) {
    return function () {
        var args = slice.call(arguments)
            , exit = args.pop()

        inOrder(operations, function (operation, callback) {
            args.push(next)
            operation.apply(null, args)

            function next(err) {
                if (err) {
                    return exit(err)
                }

                args = slice.call(arguments, 1)
                callback()
            }
        }, function finish(err) {
            if (err) {
                return exit(err)
            }

            args.unshift(null)
            exit.apply(null, args)
        })
    }
}