p.js

//opt 1
SomeService.getStuff().then(function(stuff){
  return SomeService.manipulateStuff(stuff);
}).then(function(manipulatedStuff){
  //do stuff...
});

//opt 2
SomeService.getStuff().then(SomeService.manipulateStuff).then(function(manipulatedStuff){
  //do stuff...
})

//fluent option
return SomeService.getStuff() //returns a promise for stuff, will resolve after manipulate and OtherStuff resolve.
  .then(SomeService.manipulateStuff) //manipulates stuff, and returns it
  .then(SomeService.doOtherStuff) // Does more things to stuff, and returns it


.service('SomeService', function(ApiService){

  this.getStuff = function() {
    return ApiService.get('stuff')
  }

  this.manipulateStuff = function(stuff) {
    var i
    for (i in stuff.things) {
      stuff.things[i].index = i
    }
    var deferred = promise.defer()
    deferred.resolve(stuff)
    return deferred.promise
  }

  this.doOtherStuff = function(stuff) {
    var i
    for (i in stuff.things) {
      stuff.things[i].doubleIndex = i+i
    }
    var deferred = promise.defer()
    deferred.resolve(stuff)
    return deferred.promise
  }
})