buttons disappear on new compose screen

buttons disappear on new compose screen

Sometimes the buttons across the top of the compose screen disappear (Send, Address Book, Attach, etc).  When I say disappear I mean the space allowed for them isn't even there - as if they are covered up by the From and To fields.  This also means the Save Draft button is inaccessible.  What causes this?  Is it something I do or simply a glitch?
 
When this happens the system also does not flash the auto save message causing me to wonder if it auto saves.  Typically I wait to close the message a long time so I'm sure it has saved.  Then I close it and go into drafts.  When I reopen it and the message redraws itself the buttons are there.
 
It is just weird, that all.