my work files have become encoded, how do i decipher them

[JB49]

MY WORK FILES HAVE BECOME ENCODED[MUMBO JUMBO TYPE STUFF]
I WANT TO GET THEM BACK TO TEXT AS PER ORIGINALS, I HAVE TRIED ALL SORTS OF
THINGS, BUT ALAS FAILURE SEEMS TO HAUNT ALL MY ATTEMPTS, ANY ADVICE WOULD BE
GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED

 

[Mary Sauer]

All your files, or just some?
Select all, change the font.

What version Publisher?
PUB2000: Existing Text Vanishes or Becomes Distorted When You Change the Font
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256190/en-us