Abstract: A message holder comprises a plastic housing having a sloping roof with a spring loaded ball detent thereunder. Paper is linearly inserted along a line representing and counter to the force of the spring bias. The ball detent moves back against the spring bias to a point where it may raise under the sloping roof and the paper passes under it. The ball is pulled forward and wedged under the sloping roof when the paper is pulled in the direction of the spring bias. The wedged ball strongly tends to prevent the paper's removal. However, the paper may be removed by sliding it sideways, or perpendicular to the line representing the force of the spring bias.