Børge Hilbert

There are real elves in the attic of the old Mayor's House. The elves do everything they can to ensure that the children Mads and Mette have a real Christmas in the Mayor's House. In the midst of the Christmas rush, they make sugar and flour disappear so that no one can bake Christmas cookies—neither the baker nor the citizens of Gammelby. The mayor is unhappy about the strange events and can only think about whether the good ship "Hope," which is supposed to bring new supplies, has been wrecked. There has been no news from the ship for several months, and the big question is whether "Hope" will return to Gammelby before Christmas. If not, there will be no Christmas for Mads and Mette and all the citizens of Gammelby...

The four kids, Julian, Dick, Georgina and Anne plus the dog Tim go on a bike-trip without any grownups around, but they are soon followed by a another boy, Richard, who is pursued by kidnappers.