Aaaaargh! *^@!.< bleep!

SOMEBODY HELP HERE!!! I want to add a little diddy to my sidebar but when i add the lines of code, the whole kit-n-kaboodle shows up waaay down at the bottom! WHY? no matter how i manipulate those lines, the dang thing just does not do what i want it to do. did i add the lines in the wrong place? can i not add a banner there? what gives? anyone? help!? jeez.