restore ipod 3g without lock button and forgotten passcode?

My friend found his old iPod touch in a drawer yesterday and hes been trying to remember the passcode but can't. He also cannot connect it to a computer or sign into an icloud account. He asked me to unlock it or restore it since im the tech guy in my group of friends and the sleep button does not work so is there any possible way to restore it? i cant contact apple support because i cannot read the serial number on the back.