Herbert Binns is a clever mouse with many amassing talents.  He can read backwards, sing, and play the accordion.  However, inventing is what he likes to do best.  He is a brilliant inventor. Most of the animals like Herbert, but there are three, McTabbity, Zip, and Measley, who don't like him at all.  They dislike him so much that they plot to humiliate him.  Just before Herbert is about the present his newest invention, The Flying Tricycle, they steal an important piece of the machine so it won't work when Herbert tries to use it the next day.  Herbert is too smart not to have a spare and they watch as he sails off on his machine into the sunset.