Dryer timer is running backwards (in reverse).

The timer is running backwards (in reverse).  For example setting it for 40 minutes the timer advances to counterclockwise to 50 minutes, 60 minutes, etc. instead of going clockwise and counting down to 0. 

LABORATORY NOTE:

We suspect that a visitor or another person who used the dryer turned the dial the wrong way & it shorted.  Two of the contacts on the mechanism on the inside of the timer had carbon burns.  normally you need new timer, the timer was broken for inadequate use.