- Railroad magnate Gordon Rogers agrees to allow his daughter, Helen, to marry wealthy idler Billy Deering, Jr., but only if the latter can hold the same job for one month. Billy is hired for an array of jobs, including office clerk and xylophone player, but always quits just before being fired. He then finds work in a restaurant where he is required to dress as a knight in armor and pose as a statue. On one occasion, Gordon, Helen, and Billy's romantic rival, Tom, enter the restaurant, and Billy is nearly fired when Helen recognizes him. Meanwhile, Gordon plans to merge one of his railroads with a company that is in a dispute with Tom's uncle, an unprincipled financier. Acting on the promise of a generous cash reward, Tom is determined to steal documents relating to the merger. Billy manages to stay at his job for thirty days, and in the process, exposes Tom's scheme, winning Gordon's consent to marry Helen.—AFI
- Billy Deering proposes to Helen Rogers. Helen's father, a railroad magnate, is very skeptical, since Billy has shown no signs of getting a steady job. "I could get a steady job tomorrow" claims Billy. "Yes, so could any other loafer, but how about keeping it?" responds Rogers. Rogers reluctantly agrees to let Billy marry Helen if Billy can work for three months without being fired for incompetence. Billy keeps the terms of the agreement secret from Helen. He tells he has been called away on important business, and sets out to carry out his end of the deal. "You? On business? Don't make me laugh" Helen snorts. Billy gets a job as a transcriber in an office, but can only type with one finger. He sees the manager fire the office boy, and Billy decides to quit before he too is fired. Next, he is hired as a xylophone player in an orchestra, and manages to keep the job for ten weeks. The orchestra is hired for a dance given by Mrs. Oglethorpe, a society woman. Mrs. Oglethorpe recognizes Billy. Helen is at the dance and recognizes Billy, even though he is wearing a fake mustache. She pleads with him to stop acting foolish and dance with her. He refuses, but he is unable to tell her the real reason.
Helen is so upset she vows never to see him again. This pleases Tom, Billy's rival for Helen. Billy is in no state to play the xylophone now and accidentally hits a violinist on the head with his mallet. Fearing he will be fired, Billy resigns and goes looking for another job. Meanwhile, Mr. Rogers has just completed a merger of his railroad with another one and wants to keep it a secret. Tom's uncle, Horace Graham, wants to get in on the deal. Graham tells Tom that if his nephew will secure the deal for him, he will pay off Tom's numerous debts. Tom agrees, and hires two crooks to help him out.
Billy gets a job at Capellano's restaurant, which requires him to wear a suit of armor and stand like a sentinel, to add to the atmosphere of the place. Tom invites Helen and her father to the theater, which gives his accomplices a chance to break into Rogers' safe. After the show, Tom tells his guests that he has a pressing engagement at Capellano's. Helen insists that Tom take her and her father along, much to Tom's dismay. Tom had previously set up a meeting with his accomplices there. The crooks arrive first, and discuss how easy it was to get the merger paperwork. Billy, standing nearby in his armor, hears all this and uses his spear to secretly retrieve the paperwork from one of the crooks. Tom, Helen, and her father arrive. Tom tells his men to meet him later where they can settle things. Helen recognizes Billy in the armor and asks him what he is doing there. Billy cannot give her a suitable answer. Helen goes to the manager and asks that Billy waits on her table. Billy is quickly recognized by Mr. Rogers, who tells Billy that the three months will be up in thirty minutes. Billy drops some hot soup all over Helen's dress.
Rogers sees a chance to win his deal with Billy and asks the manager to fire him. Billy hands over the merger papers to Rogers, who realizes instantly what has happened. Tom and the crooks are arrested. The clock strikes twelve, which marks the end of the three months. Billy explains what the deal was and now Helen understands. She goes into his arms and Billy tells her that he only asks one thing of her - that she doesn't fire him.
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