If you have a bipolar or FET version of the popular 555 timer on hand, a 30V n-chan logic level gate MOSFET on hand, you could make a DIY SMPS controller that works quite well.
A 555 timer configured as a free-running multivibrator circuit, the 555 output driving a low-voltage gate type of n-chan MOSFET could be used to create a very good SMPS flyback circuit. Use a 12V zener/NPN pass transistor to drop the filtered flyback output of 24V to bootstrap the 3V that starts up the 555 timer. That is to say, the power pin for the 555 is in in series with the Schottky diode trough a NPN(2N3904 and 12-V zener regulator) to power the 555. You use a schottky diode from the flyback coil to create a 24V filtered output, a small 22uH choke for the flyback coil. 555 to drive the MOSFET gate with a 3uS to 5uS on time, 20uSec off time, ( to start with), tweak on/off 555 timing adj. resistors for on/off time for best efficiency. A 24V zener through a small-valued resistor(100ohm) into the base of a npn small signal transistor(2N3904), collector to 555's Reset, using a 2.2meg pullup resistor to the +12V bootstrap, emitter to ground will provide good 24V regulation. Another npn transistor is needed for current-mode operation, (i.e., a 2N3904), connect its base through a 100-ohm to a 1-ohm current sense resistor to the source of the MOSFET to ground, its collector or'ed with the other npn to the 555 Reset, emitter to ground, will complete the circuit, except for a timing capacitor (50pF approx and two resistors for on/off time), altogether making it a very good current-mode switching controller but requires more discrete parts than are used by a SMPS specific IC, but a 555 timer might be on hand and cheap if you want the job get done fast. The ones I've designed will start at approx 2.8V ( 555C FET version) battery V and continue to work reliably down to 1.9V once started with approx 75%-80% overall efficiency at small current supply output. Adj resistor values for the correct pulse widths at 3V through the Schottky diode and filter cap before installing the MOSFET. A simple voltage divider to the base of the voltage regulating npn transistor can be used if you don't have a 24V zener on hand to set the output voltage with somewhat sloppier regulation. A .1uf bypass on pin 5 is also required as well as a 1uf or greater bypass from pin 4 (VDD) to VSS.
Ok, a schematic would have been better to post.