Droppington, an apartment house owner, is unable to renew his fire insurance on account of difficulties in collecting rents. The insurance agent accidentally sets fire to the house with a cigarette, and Droppington makes fast and furious attempts to save his insurance policy. During the excitement he tries to rescue Mrs. Mack Swain, wife of one of the tenants, a female acrobat. Meanwhile, Swain, also a skilled contortionist, has suspended himself from the roof, a living fire escape, over which children, carrying cats and other pets, walk to safety. When the confusion has somewhat abated, Droppington discovers that he has had the insurance policy in his pocket all the time.