== He sees it because, for whatever reason, that number has significance to him and now he notices it more than previously. Why it has significance, you would have to ask him.

For instance, as a fan of Sherlock Holmes, the number 221 (his address) has significance to me, and you would be surprised how often I see it, simply because I notice it.

One sees many numbers that one does not notice. To see it, it simply has to be before your eyes; to notice it, it has to already have significance to your mind. == Once someone told me that if you look at the clock and the time is 11:11, it means someone you know who has died is trying to get your attention. Ever since I heard that, it seems that whenever I glance at a clock, the time is (you guessed it!) 11:11. I agree with the first answerer!