0 is for electronic flash, which needs no headstart to get burning, as flashbulbs do. When the shutter is open, the flash is fired.
8 and 20 are for different types of flash bulbs. Fire, as in flash bulbs, takes some time to reach it's maximum. If I remember correctly, the later small wire-filled bulbs need to be fired about 16/1000 second ahead of shutter full opening, the larger bulbs need around 20/1000 (the 20 on your lens), and gas filled bulbs were in the 5/1000 range, which is probably what the 8 is for.