That is a very important part of the machine to misplace. I'm glad you found it. Just a hint, when I need to take peice off my machine to clean it out I put the peices in a flat dish that sits on my cutting table right next to lamp and the table my machine sits on. I misplace things all the time so when there are notions (seam ripper, hem guide, tracing wheel, ect) I put them in the dish till I no longer need them and put them in their proper storage place. Keeps everything from getting mixed up in whatever sewing project I have going at the time.
Just went back and re-read your post a little closer. That is funny, are you saying you found it in it's proper place?