What is the name of the movie that was shown on Nick in the 80's about a boy who talks to an animatronic dragon which only he can talk to (not pete's dragon)

After searching the internet I saw someone with a similar question and they said the boy may have run away from an abusive father. There was a man who owned a warehouse where the dragon was stored. The dragon was not animated like in pete's dragon. The boy and the dragon may have fought crime together too.