Edit: after viewing your first picture more carefully, it appears you may actually be on the right track. Just the center button needs to be removed by carefully lifting those four tabs, shown in second picture, and rotate the button 90°. Put the button back in place in its correct position, and bend the tabs back down. Then put the horn rod assembly back into the column, and put everything back together at the bottom of the steering box.
I don't think you are following Gary's instructions correctly. You didn't need to remove the light switch/horn button rod to correct the the problem. Everything that Gary explained was supposed to be changed at the bottom or steering box, after removing the sheet metal light switch ball.