The story itself is told from the point of view of Billy, a young boy who has always dreamed of owning a sweet shop. It's have abandoned building named The Grubber (an old English word for a sweet shop) near where he lives. One day, he finds that the old building has been renovated and has become the head office for the Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company. Billy then meets its workers: a Giraffe with an extendable neck; a Pelican (or "Pelly" as he is called by the others) who has a flexible upper beak; and a singing and dancing Monkey, all of whom he quickly befriends.