When the prince is a brat and you aren't supposed to punish him because he is 'royalty,' what is a king to do? Call the whipping boy; he takes the whippings the prince's guardians aren't allowed to give to 'Prince Brat.'

This high-paced story begins with the prince making trouble– again. Jemmy, the whipping boy, is called for and receives the prince's punishment– again. This becomes the pattern for every day: the prince refuses to learn his school lessons and Jemmy gets punished. The prince pulls a prank, and Jemmy gets punished. Jemmy decides, however, that as long as he is there he might as well learn proper manners and how to read and write, even it the prince won't.

Then, one fateful night, the prince decides to run away and needs someone to carry his basket. Jemmy is drafted, and their adventure begins. While out in the woods they are captured by thieves who plan to ransom the prince. Finding a chance to escape, Jemmy runs, the prince follows, and a grand chase begins. They run into a dancing bear, a gypsy, and have to flee through the sewers of the city– where they try not to run into the rats that live down there! Finally they make it back home, and all is set right by the king.