[2][5] During World War I, Billings served as a member of the emergency committee of the American Red Cross' Boston chapter.
[2][3] He was also a director of the Children's Aid Society, a trustee of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, and a member of the Boston Athletic Association, National Exchange Club, National Municipal League, and the American Academy of Political and Social Science.
In 1911 he was named President of the Paul Revere Trust Co.[2] He also served as a director of the State Street Trust Company, Home Savings Bank, Workingmen's Building Association, and president and director the Workingmen's Loans Association.
[3] On October 8, 1913, Billings was appointed Collector of Customs for the Port of Boston by President Woodrow Wilson.
[10] Prior to the United States' involvement in World War I, Billings worked to maintain the country's neutrality.
In March 1915 he established a code signal for foreign ships leaving the port of Boston for Europe.
[11] On February 5, 1917, upon orders from Washington, Billings deployed guards to prevent the crews of the one Austrian and five German vessels in the port from leaving their ships.
[13] On April 6, 1917, in anticipation that Congress would declare war on Germany, Billings ordered that five German ships (the Amerika, Cincinnati, Wittekind, Köln, and Ockenfels) be seized.
[3] In 1927, Billings and his wife were appointed by Boston Mayor Malcolm Nichols to serve on a committee to assist him in the celebration of Lindbergh Day.
[19] From 1921 to 1928, Billings served as vice-president and treasurer of John Paulding Meade Company, an insurance firm.