License plate and dash lights on with key on, but lheadlight switch in the off position Options

[HalfMoon]

I started my car tonight and noticed despite the headlight switch being fully in the off position, my dash lights are on and my license plate light is .
Odd. Never saw that before. Headlight switch I imagine....
Thoughts?
David
Addedum-and saw what I thought was a wisp of smoke come from under my dash at the windshield....perhaps my imagination?

[HalfMoon]

Process of elimination.
I swapped in a spare (and known to be good) light switch and I'm still popping fuses at slot 8, with the same other symptoms happening.
Also, I think the wisp of smoke that I first reported was from the fuse when it originally popped.
Now I'm thinking ignition switch. Has anyone heard of slot 8 popping fuses due to a bad ignition switch?
As an aside, I didn't add or change wires in anything prior to this problem so somethings worn out as opposed to an operator error. And I suspect greatly it's a component as opposed to a wire short.
Thoughts, jokes, jibs?
D
Note-The addition of the 924 wiper switch occured AFTER the problem manifested itself.

Addedum-Hey...I wonder if the light dimmer could be at fault (marked as "A" in the image, Easier to eliminate than the ignition switch, that's for sure). I have a spare....