BAM, You can ALWAYS find it... even if you can't see it. Under the view window is the name of the currently "active" mesh. Open that menu, select the figure or prop, camera, light... whatever you have lost. When you have selected it, glance at the dials, especially the ones for spatial translations. If your hair went halfway to Mars or the shoe is inside the body, it ought to be obvious from the numbers on the dials. When you know where it is and what orientation, you have the option of restoring the element or moving it by hand, depending upon how far out of whack it is. Note: getting rid of that damnable IK the moment you load a mesh (before posing, before adding anything else) stops most of these placement problems before they occur. Carolly