Elsie's well-meaning fairy godmother is a little hard of hearing. When her mama reports that Elsie has been a much better girl than "before," her fairy godmother hears it as a request that Elsie "be four," and with a wave of her magic wand, multiplies the girl. "No! WAIT!" cries Elsie's papa only making things worse, as Elsie's fairy godmother hears "eight" and promptly complies. Soon even the mayor complains about the "rowdydow and racket" from the octet of Elsies and, when all else fails, banishes the family.