Glass orb, help!

Hey guys here i am agan asking for help : ).

Now i have some problems whit the Glass orb tutorial
at http://www.dj-designs.com/tutorials.htm.

I have came to the step where you should add a layer mask, but im not understanding why should i need the layer i have try to add it but whats next i never get the same look as his ball : (.
One more thing when i try to flip a layer vertically the hole thing change, not only the layer : (. How should i do this, how should i flip it. Maybe you guys know some other tutorial like this.

well to flip only the layer vertically you want to go to
edit - transform - flip vertical
while your on the layer that you want to flip

nothing?

I can't look it.

http://www.dj-designs.com/orb.htm