JavaScript will "convert" numeric string to integer, if you perform calculations on it (as JS is weakly typed). But you can convert it yourself using parseInt or parseFloat.

Just remember to put radix in parseInt!

In case of integer inputs:

var x = parseInt(prompt("Enter a Value", "0"), 10);
var y = parseInt(prompt("Enter a Value", "0"), 10);

In case of float:

var x = parseFloat(prompt("Enter a Value", "0"));
var y = parseFloat(prompt("Enter a Value", "0"));

Here's a recursive approach:

var number = (function ask() {
  var n = prompt('Number from 1 to 100:');
  return isNaN(n) || +n > 100 || +n < 1 ? ask() : n;
}());

You already have a good answer. This answer is another look at things you can do.

Assuming your number field is like the following

<input type="text" name="num_fld" id="num_fld" onchange="return chkNum();" />

and you've defined a javascript function like so

function chkNum()
{
   var rc = false;

   if(!isNaN(parseFloat(n)) && isFinite(n))
   {
     rc = true;
   }
   else
   {
      document.getElementById("num_fld").value = 0;
   }
   return rc;
}

This function checks to see if the number is really a number, but also monkeys with the input, so the bad value does not stay in place. Offhand I am not quite sure if returning false prevents the number from being entered (kind of like in a validate function.) I believe from my testing that returning false does affect what is in the field, but I am not 100% sure of that.

You could also alter the background and/or text color of the input field upon failure (the else part of the test, so the user notices something is wrong. alert(); is good for testing, but kind of messes up the look of your site in production.