See the following figure where the getBalance message is drawn from the diagram frame to the theirBank lifeline. The getBalance message has a gate.

Formal gates usage in Sequence diagram

See the following figure where the actual gate is presented. The Balance Lookup interaction use refers to the Balance Lookup sequence diagram. The getBalance message (see the 2nd message) has selected the formal gate and automatically repeats the data of the getBalance message from the Balance Lookup diagram.

Actual gates usage in sequence diagram