Balloon Dragons are so named because they are filled with a gas that makes them almost lighter than air, similar to balloons. However, they are not prone to bursting, as they are covered in tough skin and can deflate themselves if necessary. In addition, they generally are slow moving. They use their gas bladders to float to the tops of trees, where food is more abundant. They can shift their weight from their backs to their fronts, allowing them to reach leaves and fruit.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

One of the first dragons to settle on the new territory with Gypsum, Helium was never very fond of the idea of being a Balloon dragon. He has the unfortunate traits of being absolutely terrified of heights and only fully inflating when he is startled. These, combined with his stereotypical old man grumpiness, make him a target for any mischievous hatchlings that learn of his fear. All Helium desires is a life of peace and tranquility, but the hatchlings refuse to let him have it. Because of them he has decided to never produce any of the little devils again, but though he is old in age he is still young at heart and accidents do occur. His refusal to participate in the raising of any "accidents" has made their mothers extremely angry with him, and he is angered in return over the fact that he is deemed callous for simply not wanting children.