Two boys are accused of shoplifting. Pursued by the police, they open a strange green door set in a wall bordering a street. Instead of the wet street they have just left behind, they find themselves in a sunlit garden with a crown-shaped fountain set in the centre of a lawn. The garden is owned by Zardaka, a mysterious wizard. He says he can control time and has built himself a house which overlooks the four corners of the earth. Aided by Mista the Owl and Patch, his cat, Zardaka rules his kingdom with an iron hand. PC Higgotty, hot in pursuit, follows the boys into the garden and is turned temporarily into a snake by the wizard. Meeting up with Stella, who also has been captured, Chris and Paul find themselves literally fighting against time in order to defeat Zardaka, who plans to take over the universe.