my ($newtop,$error) = _get_top($wanted_number,$tippy_top_hash);

and

sub _get_top {
  my $top_req = shift;
  my $top_item    = shift;
  
  if ($top_item->{'ctl_id'} == $top_req) {
    return ($top_item,undef);
  }
  
  ## Added for speed
  if (exists($top_item->{$top_req})) {
    return($top_item->{$top_req},undef);
  }
  ## End added for speed
  
  foreach my $key (keys %{$top_item}) {
    next unless ($key =~ /^\d+/);
    if ($key == $top_req) {
      return ($top_item->{$key},undef);
      last;   ### probably not needed
    } else {
      _get_top($top_req, $top_item->{$key});
    }
    return (undef,"Seems we can't get the top item hash!");
  }
  
}