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Pick a side project that sounds interesting (sounds like you're into games), figure out how to code it, and then put the source up on Github.
These side projects are going to be your portfolio of work, proof that you're not an idiot and worth their weight in gold when you go to apply somewhere.
Good luck.
Now to be fair, I learned some C++ in high school (nothing beyond algorithms and solving math problems by coding though), and I think I learned HTML in 7th grade and also touched Javascript in high school, so I had a "base start", but then went on to a whole different field and turned back to coding about 8 years later.
EDIT+: And there's no reason you won't create the "next Facebook or Twitter", at pre-scaling stage they were both very simple technically speaking, what one could learn in a couple years starting from absolute zero, no need for Stanford level CS knowledge here... if you have a great idea (99.9...% of people don't, even if they think they do!) you can turn it into a prototype and then turning the prototype into a real business can be more about business skills not coding skills, because an interesting idea that brings profit will always be scalable because you will be able to hire smart people to scale it for you. And at the end of the "day" it will be your choice whether you'll decide to play on the business side or coding side more.
If you're willing to come in as a "junior" developer then you will quickly progress based on the other experiences and value you can offer.
Don't get into thousand things. Start with basics - HTML, JavaScript and one of the scripting languages - PHP, Pearl, Ruby - anything. Pick one and stick to it. All are equally good. Then start making small projects. Make a tic tac toe game in JavaScript. See what difficulties you face, ask for help and solve the problem.
Register on sites like eLance and oDesk. See what kind of projects people post. You don't have to bid - you will probably won't win a bid against a full time pro developer. But see what people are looking for, try to build it as your side project. Try to find an idea where people will pay.
Make a simple todo list app - almost every programmer makes one in his/her lifetime. Release it as a free web app. See the traction. Add features and you will learn more. Some day you will come across an idea that you think you can build and people will pay for.
Polish your programming. Don't worry about using the latest framework or knowing everything about a language. Just get the shit done.
Get started from today.
Now I am starting to venture into other languages like Ruby and C in my spare time and I am excited to see where I'll go next. I know you are older, but its a similar story. Really, as long as you are into it, you will catch up in no time. And once you do it for a job, you will never look back. If you need a boost, take some online courses, go to meetups, sign up for a web development bootcamp. Meet other people who do web, you will find that a lot of people doing it now didn't start life as a programmer either.