That's the formatting bar, and you will have to enable it.
Mail page%26gt;%26gt;options (top right)%26gt;%26gt;scroll to and click on %26quot;general preferences%26quot;.
Now, go down to *Composing Email* and check the button by-----%26quot;compose with color and graphics%26quot;----then click %26quot;save%26quot; at bottom of page.
In case you're using the New Mail------there is a link on the composing page (end of subject line, I think)----%26quot;Rich Text or Plain Text%26quot;----that will enable and/or disable that bar.
Good luck.
