function makeVisible() {
var element;
if (document.getElementById) {
// IE 5.5+, NS6+, Opera 6+
element = document.getElementById('mySpan').style;
} else if (document.layers) {
// NS4
element = document.layers['mySpan'];
} else if (document.all) {
// IE < 5.5, Opera 5(?)
element = document.all('mySpan').style;
}

if (element) {
element.visibility = 'visible';
} else {
alert("I hope you're reading this, because if you have JavaScript off, you will see nothing");
}
}