Some people do those things just to brighten your day. If they see that you may be expressing yourself as if you are sad, etc they may joke around with you to get you to smile.
Others do it because they like you and want to see your response. Your response to them will show whether you like them or not. Then they can go to the next step of asking you out, etc.
I am wondering whether you truly like him. When he does those things do you accept the behavior or do you kind of move away from him? The way you describe him makes it sound like you two are not really compatible. You may like him but the attraction doesn't sound very strong to me.