slant 6 ignition problem !!

so the other day i go to start my car. i turn the key and nothing the starter didnt even go off. so i thought it might of been the ignition switch..as i go to pull it out my car starts trying to turn on(without the key in) and i start seeing and smelling smoke coming out under the dash/gauge cluster. any ideas what it could be? im thinking maybe the positive and negative wires going to the back of the alternator gauge? ...maybe could of fried . i just want a good enough idea so i kinda know where to start looking.