Instead of "by" indicating means:
* Without: "The task was completed without any help."
* Through: "The work was done through hard work."
Instead of "by" indicating agency:
* For: "The decision was made for the good of the company." (Opposite of "by" as in "made by the company")
* Against: "The proposal was voted against by the board." (Opposite of "by" as in "voted by the board")
To get a more specific answer, you need to provide more context. Tell me what "by" is referring to in your situation.