def get_balance(self, address):
        """
        returns the balance object from blockcypher for address
        """
        url_append = "/balance?token=%s" % self.api_key
        url = self.base_url("addrs/%s" % (address + url_append))
        result = json.loads(urlopen(url).read().decode("utf8"))
        return result
returns the balance object from blockcypher for address