Dr. Snuggles' housekeeper, Miss Nettles, is fed up with having to do all the housework around the house and with tolerating Nobby Mouse who lives in the kitchen. She gives her notice -- as she frequently does -- and visits her friend, Madame Dumpitoo. As a present for her, Dr. Snuggles decides to invent a robot to help her with the chores but, of course, not all goes according to plan.
The Treacle Tree, who lives outside Dr. Snuggles' house, is bored of staying in one place. Seeing the birds gives him the idea that he wants to learn how to fly. Dr. Snuggles builds him a pair of wings, but when the tree goes missing on his practice flight, the gang has to go look for him in Dr. Snuggles' space rocket.
Dr. Snuggles discovers that the near-by river has dried up, and finds him hiding in a cave. The river is scared to go out to the sea because lately huge blocks of water have disappeared. Now Dr. Snuggles with the help of Uncle Bill and Woogie the Freckled Camel must find what is happening to all the water on Earth.