This book was written for a younger, possibly teenage, generation towards the turn of the twentieth century. It is an adventure story with a boy called Frank Reade Jr. - a teenaged inventor. It is written in the style of pulp fiction and was very popular in its day.

This book is an adventure story about the exploits of Frank Reade Jr. Reade is a famous inventor of steam, electrical and mechanical inventions of various kinds. He had previously completed building the greatest air-ship he had ever conceived of, and had added a crown to the glory of his great talent. A chance encounter with the wealthy Mexican Juan Zamora promises to yield great fortune to him. Zamora asks Reade to lend him his air-ship so as to effect a rescue of his young son who has been captured by the dreaded American outlaw called Captain Diavolo. And Reade agrees...