How to install OSX on mac mini G4 when no OS is present?

hello, I am very new to all of this. Here is some back ground, I just picked up an older mac mini not sure what modle or anything I just know its older i think 2005 or 2006. I pluged it in to my tv and turned it on and all that came up was a folder with a question mark in it and it changed to another image I dont remember what it was, the IT people at best buy said that it doesnt have an OS, they also said I could put one on a usb flash drive and boot it from there. My question is, if that is possable or if I need to get the disk from apple? and my only other computer is running on windows 7. I have an 8GB flash drive if the OSX will fit on that. I also read somewere that I need to do something to the usb drive to make it so the mac mini will boot off the usb drive. I can provide the last three ( it is an 11 diget S/N) they are "RHT". If that helps.
Thank you so much and I am awating any help I can get.
(sorry is stuff is miss spelled)

start up the computer with the Option key held down
Neil, are you sure? My memory is the Option key boot was not available in 10.4. We had to hold the C key down to boot from an OS cd. That was a long time ago, your memory is probably better than mine. But I had to ask.
OS 10.5 :

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